Twenty people were injured and two hospitals declared Code Orange mass-casualty events on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, after a shuttle bus chartered by a contractor for a data centre company ran off Highway 39 and flipped onto its side four kilometres south of Mackenzie, B.C.
Highway 39 Crash Triggers Mass-Casualty Response
The Wednesday accident occurred in a remote part of northern British Columbia, approximately 1,000 kilometres north of Vancouver. Rich Rogers, a Mackenzie resident driving down Highway 39 with his wife and 11-year-old son, witnessed the vehicle veer off the route and flip. Rogers, a former firefighter who now drives mine workers, rushed to assess and triage the injured while his wife called emergency services, according to accounts reported by The Canadian Press.
Rogers reported finding one person who had been ejected from the bus and did not appear to be breathing, alongside three unconscious passengers inside the vehicle. Emergency responders deployed six ambulances, five airplanes, and one helicopter to the aftermath, transporting patients to local facilities and regional centers. Northern Health confirmed on Thursday that 15 of the 20 individuals assessed and treated following the crash have since been discharged.
Did You Know? The shuttle bus involved in the Highway 39 crash was chartered by a contractor for a data centre company and bore the logo of Paxton Shuttle Services, though the company did not respond to media requests for comment, as reported by the Prince George Citizen.
Infrastructure Gaps Highlighted in Northern British Columbia
The remote nature of the incident prompted renewed public discussion among municipal leaders regarding regional emergency infrastructure. Prince George Mayor Garth Frizzell and Mackenzie Mayor Pete Kyllo issued a joint media release on Friday, Nov. 6, calling for improvements to regional cell coverage and the inclusion of an on-site helipad during the ongoing acute care tower expansion at the University Hospital of Northern B.C. (UHNBC). According to the Prince George Citizen, local officials previously lobbied the province for an on-site helipad, though outgoing Infrastructure Minister Bowinn Ma stated in September that a helipad was not deemed feasible under prior evaluations.
Union representatives also emphasized the logistical challenges of regional medical transports. Ian Tait, a spokesperson for Ambulance Paramedics of B.C., noted that air ambulances must land at the Prince George airport rather than directly at UHNBC, requiring an additional 15-kilometre ground transfer that can introduce critical delays for trauma patients. Municipal leaders pointed to connectivity hurdles, noting that universal broadband remains uninstalled across the north and only 62 percent of the province's 15,000 kilometres of primary and secondary highways have cellular service. Witnesses to Wednesday’s collision reported that initial 911 calls dropped and required a satellite phone from a passing dump truck driver to reconnect.
Police investigate official cause of highway crash
Authorities have not yet determined the official cause of the Highway 39 crash, and police investigations remain active. While 15 of the 20 people assessed and treated in Northern Health facilities after the crash have been discharged, medical and municipal teams continue to monitor recovery efforts for those impacted by the Code Orange declarations at UHNBC and the Mackenzie and District Hospital.
Twenty people injured after bus veered off highway
How many people were injured in the Highway 39 bus crash?
A total of 20 people sustained injuries after the shuttle bus veered off Highway 39 and flipped onto its side on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026. Northern Health confirmed that 15 of these patients had been discharged by Thursday.
What emergency declarations were made following the accident?
The remote collision triggered Code Orange mass-casualty declarations at both the University Hospital of Northern B.C. and the Mackenzie and District Hospital. These declarations were rescinded later that same afternoon.
What specific infrastructure improvements are local leaders requesting?
Following the incident, the mayors of Prince George and Mackenzie renewed calls for an on-site helipad at the University Hospital of Northern B.C. and expanded cellular service across northern highways. Sourced reports indicate that roughly 38 percent of B.C. highways currently lack cell coverage.
What measures do you think local authorities should prioritize first to improve emergency response times in remote northern regions?
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