Surrey school bus filled with kids crashes through Chemainus ferry terminal

A Surrey mother is demanding answers after her child’s school bus crashed into a BC Ferries building while on a field trip last week.

On Friday, May 24, during Surrey Christian School’s grade seven camping trip, the brakes reportedly “failed” on a parked school bus filled with children.

Multiple sources confirm that the vehicle rolled backwards and broke through the wall of the Chemainus ferry terminal. 

The North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP says that no one was injured, but at least one mother, who wishes to remain anonymous, wants to know how the incident could have happened. 

“There had to be negligence in some area. Whether an emergency brake wasn’t put on, or if it was a brakes malfunction — [I would like] someone to be held accountable in some way,” she said.

The mother shared a letter with CityNews from Surrey Christian School’s principal Tom Williams who said there were around 12-15 students on board the bus at the time. 

“Obviously, this was quite a shocking thing for students to observe and/or experience. I have made contact with the relevant bus company who will be providing a replacement service shortly and we anticipate we will return to [Surrey Christian School] as scheduled,” said Williams.

The bus company in question is exactly who the unnamed mother wants answers from.

“The only reason the bus company gave was ‘it was a brakes malfunction,'” she claimed. 

BC Ferries, whose Chemainus passenger waiting room was damaged, said it is “in the process of assessing the damage and determining next steps.”

CityNews has reached out to the school bus rental company for comment.

While the bus was rolling, the mother says no driver was aboard, but one teacher acted fast and attempted to stop the bus.

“The teacher jumped in the driver seat to try to get it to stop, but just couldn’t get it to stop on time,” she said. “The windows at the back of the school bus smashed, and there were some kids sitting back there. So no kids were seriously injured. But emotionally, I could imagine the teacher was really shaken and in tears. I could only imagine the teacher might have thought there could have been kids outside, behind the bus –which there very well could have been. That’s what scares me.”

She added that she wanted to thank that teacher for their “amazing” attempt.

As of Monday, she said she’s still waiting for more information about the crash.

“I don’t know if that’s the end of it and they just want parents to move on or if they’re going to offer anything.”

The mother said she hopes to hear an apology from the school bus company.