Alcohol a factor in car-transit bus collision: police

Alcohol is believed to be a factor in a crash involving a Winnipeg Transit bus has sent three people to hospital, including one in critical condition.

The bus collided with a car just before 4 a.m. Friday Goulet Street near Traverse Avenue, in the St. Boniface neighbourhood.

A preliminary investigation has revealed the bus had the right of way on Goulet when it was hit by the car, which was heading north on Traverse, police said, adding alcohol is believed to be a factor.

The impact spun the bus around and sent it off the road, crashing through as metal fence fence of a condo complex and up against the building. There is some exterior damage but the building is structurally fine, police said.

Two people were in the car — a man and woman in their 20s — and two were in the bus — a woman in her 50s who was driving, and a passenger who was another transit employee.

The man driving the car is the one listed in critical while his passenger is in stable condition.

A spokesperson with the transit union said the driver of the bus was examined as a precautionary measure and is expected to be OK. The other employee who was a passenger was not hurt.

Goulet remained closed for several hours as emergency crews investigated and rerouted traffic. It was reopened at 1:30 p.m.

Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call police at 204-986-6219 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477).