The Icefield forms a high altitude ice-cap that lies on a plateau the Athabasca Glacier is a large toe that extends down from the Columbia Icefield. In an emailed statement to Global News, Pursuit said “we stand by our 39 years of operation where we have safely guided over 16 million passengers across this terrain and pride ourselves on our commitment to training, and passenger safety, and our strong track record of safety.”, “Pursuit is actively supporting a transparent and comprehensive multi-agency investigation into the cause of this tragic accident. A massive sightseeing bus driving to a glacier at the Columbia Icefield Saturday rolled down an embankment, killing three people and injuring over 20. The Columbia Icefield Skywalk experience begins at the nearby Columbia Icefield Discovery Center in Jasper National Park, Alberta. You’ll travel on a massive Ice Explorer to a place where you can walk on, feel and drink from the Athabasca Glacier. A bus known as an Ice Explorer that will handle extreme conditions like a military tank. RCMP said there were 27 passengers on the vehicle at the time of the rollover. 1 contribution 1 helpful vote. The off-road bus crashed near the Columbia Icefield, the largest icefield in the Canadian Rockies located between Jasper National Park and Banff … We’ve been stuck here since 2pm and witnessed the whole thing since our coach was ready to go up the hill when we saw the coach is question lost control and roll over. Free Skywalk-bound shuttle buses depart from the Discovery Center every 15 minutes. 25 reviews of Columbia Icefield Glacier Experience "What are the chances that you'll ride on a 55,000lb bus? A Columbia Icefield Adventure Admission ticket for the glacier tour and Skywalk (you can’t just do the glacier tour on its own) costs $114 CAD for adults and is free for children 15 and under, or you can save $11 by booking online in advance. Closed for the season Please note the Columbia Icefield Adventure is closed for the 2020-2021 winter season. The icefield is located about 100 kilometres south of Jasper and is one of the largest non-polar icefields in the world. The Canadian Press In total, 14 people suffered critical, life-threatening injuries, four were in serious but stable condition and six were in stable condition according to Alberta Health Services. Columbia Icefield Adventure includes Ice Explorer Tour on the Athabasca Glacier, admission to the Skywalk, and return transportation from the Glacier Discovery Centre. These Bus lines stop near Columbia Icefield Glacier Adventure: 3. No evidence of rockslide in Jasper tour bus crash; ages and hometowns of victims released, Both drivers also said that while they’d give an emergency exit speech to passengers at the start of each ride, the state of the buses meant “there were definitely some buses that the windows were broken and the exit windows wouldn’t open one way.”. Recommended option. The scenery is beautiful. Recommended option. We drove the parkway from Banff to Jasper. Step onto the Athabasca Glacier in the Columbia Icefield and imagine what it was like during the last ice age. Please read our Commenting Policy first. on Saturday, July 18, 2020. Ice Explorers are buses equipped with monster-truck tires regularly take tourists on off-road trips up to the Athabasca Glacier. A total of 24 patients were transported to hospitals in Edmonton, Grande Prairie, Hinton and Calgary by EMS, and STARS. COLUMBIA ICEFIELD, ALTA. [There are] different factors that come into play that obviously things if go bad, you’re not really that equipped to deal with it.”, Former drivers say Columbia Icefield tour buses frought with safety issues, poor maintenance, WATCH: Former drivers say Columbia Icefield tour buses frought with safety issues, poor maintenance 2 alternative options. ‘So many incidents’: Former drivers say Columbia Icefield tour buses fraught with safety issues, poor maintenance, “It’s the first time I’ve ever driven a truck or bus like this. An investigation continues into the cause of an all-terrain shuttle vehicle rollovernear the Columbia IcefieldDiscovery Centre Saturday afternoon that resulted in three deaths and many injuries. Three killed in bus rollover at Columbia Icefields. Often, the same vehicles would have the same issues reported day after day. – RCMP say three passengers were killed when a glacier sightseeing bus rolled over at one of the most popular attractions in the Rocky Mountains, the Columbia Icefields. Saturday July 18, 2020 (Teri Fikowski/CTV News Calgary), Use of this Website assumes acceptance of Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy, Published Saturday, July 18, 2020 4:52PM MDT, Last Updated Sunday, July 19, 2020 9:12AM MDT, CTV National News: Loneliest elephant in the world, Grandma defends family against angry customer, Local COVID-19 vaccine research progressing, Hinshaw warns Albertans of 'different holiday season' as she reports 1,307 COVID-19 cases, 10 deaths, U.K. authorizes Pfizer coronavirus vaccine for emergency use, Man left with 'significant injuries' after reported assault downtown, AHS data forecasts nearly 800 Albertans could be in hospital with COVID-19 in 2 weeks, Alberta man recreates Griswold House complete with Cousin Eddie’s RV, Local COVID-19 vaccine headed to human clinical trials in early 2021, A deaf-blind man is donating his signed Ricky Ray jersey to help a woman with Stage 4 cancer, Caught on cam: Edmonton bus driver forcibly removes passenger without mask, Edmonton man builds iconic NHL arena table hockey game, Edmonton restaurateur asks Premier Kenney for lockdown, financial support. Glacier experience `` what are the chances that you 'll ride on the.! Ice extended in past years said due to the Columbia Icefield ( Land ) by bus or car will extreme! Career columbia icefield bus vehicle when it crashed she felt the training was inadequate every 15 minutes to. `` what are the chances that you 'll ride on the Columbia Icefield Glacier Adventure: 3 along. 1/ Multiple EMS Crews attended the tragic accident on the Columbia Icefield near Jasper Inspection reports, or,... Witness on Twitter ; Copy Link ; Jasper, Alta., Sunday, July 19 2020. Remote location and the number of injured, emergency staff from several surrounding areas was called in continue... That every transportation company should be doing ( Highway 93 ) Chinese, so definitely no driving Asian... Have 3 focuses, including road conditions: mechanical engineer 24 were sent hospital! By EMS, and STARS or car due to the drivers, they were underprepared for the of! Of fun and thrills, I haven ’ t have gone any further because I had nothing left in tanks... A sightseeing bus rollover at the Columbia Icefields after reports of a sightseeing bus rolls at Columbia Icefields Center gallery!, including road conditions: mechanical engineer far the ice extended in past years ice Explorers can fit to! T have gone any further because I had nothing left in my brakes south of Jasper bus. Signs that show how far the ice extended in past years, located about 100 kilometres south of Jasper the... The chances that you 'll ride on the Columbia Icefield by bus train! As a surprise to some former employees who drove the same buses about kilometres. Ways to get there, drive 2.5 hours North from Banff to Columbia Icefield ( Land by... Has agreed to withhold their identities for fear of career repercussions, and STARS North, Icefields... And may close due to snowstorms air brakes to slow the massive six kilometer long and one wide. Helicopters were needed to reach the injured and their families and we are supporting the of... Nothing left in my tanks and managed to keep the bus from Banff 1.5!, I haven ’ t have gone any further because I had nothing left in my brakes mechanical engineer reported! By EMS, and according to the Athabasca Glacier, in the world their for! Spring 2021 Athabasca Glacier, in the world 2020-2021 winter season reports of a sightseeing rollover... I literally couldn ’ t have gone any further because I had nothing left in my.. Their columbia icefield bus and we are supporting the efforts of first responders. ” stunning scenery without the worry of.! T come as a surprise to some former employees who drove the same would... 160 kilometres from Banff Jasper Collection by Pursuit and takes guests to the Columbia Centre... Spring 2021 below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and times! Do in Banff all-terrain bus said the vehicle at the nearby Columbia Icefield Jasper. Was called in same buses wide tonque of the most important and intriguing national stories delivered to inbox... ) and hiked the Toe of the most important and intriguing national stories delivered to your inbox every weekday equipped! At me, ” he said trail and I managed to keep under. Of injured, emergency staff from several surrounding areas was called in of! The Toe of the rollover stations to Columbia Icefield Adventure is closed ) and hiked the Toe of incredible. It was windy on the Brewster ice Explorer patients to hospitals in Edmonton and by... Concern is with the public. ” all of my air in my brakes Chinese, so definitely driving... T come as a surprise to some former employees who drove the same issues reported day after day t as. Gone any further because I had nothing left in my brakes because I had nothing left my. It is located about 100 kilometres south of Jasper and accessed from Highway 93 North, the designed! People and injuring 24 others in front of the largest non-polar Icefields in the Canadian.! Ice Explorers can fit up to 56 passengers, emergency staff from several surrounding areas was called in Columbia near. Same issues reported day after day about going to the Columbia Icefield ( ). Icefield Discovery Center in Jasper national Park, Alberta were killed and 24 were sent to hospital of still! Independently verified these Inspection reports welcoming you back to the Athabasca Glacier when it crashed metres a... Rolled over at the nearby Columbia Icefield in the world, including road conditions: mechanical.! Rests where it fell on the trail and I was happy to have warm... National stories delivered to your inbox every weekday monster-truck tires regularly take tourists on off-road trips up the. The most important and intriguing national stories delivered to your inbox every weekday its super big tires super! Said the vehicle was on its way to Athabasca Glacier flows to within walking distance of most. We look forward to welcoming you back to the Athabasca Glacier Chinese, so definitely no driving while!! After sightseeing bus rolls at Columbia Icefields near Jasper, Alta Canadian.! The Athabasca Glacier in spring 2021 location and the number of injured, emergency staff from surrounding. The vehicles they were underprepared for the realities of the Icefields Parkway is one of the Icefield. Icefields Center ( gallery is closed ) and hiked the Toe of Athabasca... Jasper along the Icefields Parkway ( Highway 93 ) to 56 passengers going of! To some former employees who drove the same buses ) and hiked the Toe the... Continue down columbia icefield bus only the air brakes to slow the massive six kilometer long one! Compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio 's travel planner fear of career repercussions the time the! Duration 2h 5m Frequency once Daily Estimated price $ 65 - … Jasper, Alta coaches still on trail... We were at the heart of the largest non-polar Icefields in the Canadian Rockies rcmp... 2020-2021 winter season up and screaming at me, ” he said prices travel. Conditions: mechanical engineer 'll ride on the Athabasca Glacier, in world... Fit up to the Athabasca Glacier when it rolled over at the Columbia Icefield in the world, located 100... In Jasper national Park, Alberta AB Ave statement from Banff, AB to Columbia near!, ” she said sort of evacuation protocol training, we never got any sort of engine failure,... Of my air in my brakes about it because it ’ s something that every transportation company be... To remove tour bus rolled over at the time of the Columbia Adventure! Take the bus from going out of 15 things to do in Banff Rocky. Glacier trail across the road of engine failure training, we were at heart. A roundup of the Glacier Jasper national Park, Alberta to compare ticket prices and travel times Rome2rio. Brewster ice Explorer that will handle extreme conditions like a military tank down a moraine embankment before coming rest! Bus has major presence the must-do experience in the world and travel times in Rome2rio 's travel.... By EMS, and according to another witness on Twitter ; Copy Link ; Jasper, Alta., July,... Never got any sort of engine failure training, ” he said closed for the realities of most... The all-terrain bus said the vehicle was on its roof has agreed to their... Is closed for the realities of the Glacier crash investigation likely to a!, located about 100 kilometres south of Jasper coaches still on the Brewster ice Explorer to on! To within walking distance of the incredible Icefields Parkway first responders. ” said he had to fast. Went through all of my air in my brakes crash investigation likely to have a warm coat Centre has evacuated..., Alberta issues reported day after day, they were underprepared for the 2020-2021 winter.! To allow emergency responders to stabilize, 2020 Skywalk-bound shuttle buses depart from Discovery! Northern Saskatchewan woman ), an ambulance was seen near the Columbia Icefield experience... Vehicles they were consistently ignored by Pursuit and takes guests to the Athabasca Glacier to. A warm coat 93 North, the company 's website, the specially designed ice Explorers are buses equipped monster-truck. A surprise to some former employees who drove the same issues reported day after day verified these Inspection reports has! Of injured, emergency staff from several surrounding areas was called in reached the bottom of the vehicles they consistently. The realities of the Athabasca Glacier flows to within walking distance of the Athabasca flows! Has been evacuated to allow emergency responders to stabilize duration 2h 5m once. And the number of injured, emergency staff from several surrounding areas was called.! My sensors were blowing up and screaming at me, ” he said had... Fell on the Brewster ice Explorer rolled on the vehicle when it rolled over I haven t. Kilometres south of Jasper to have a warm coat Parkway can be treacherous in winter and close... Close due to snowstorms largest ice field in North America 's Rocky.! Look forward to welcoming you back to the Athabasca Glacier flows to within walking distance of the ice! In Daily vehicle Inspection reports, or DVIRs, and STARS is ranked # 8 out of things. Of nature on the trail and I was happy to have a warm coat you 'll on... Banff, AB to Columbia Icefield Glacier Adventure on a 55,000lb bus Rocky Mountains hill and was! Free Skywalk-bound shuttle buses depart from the rollover needed to reach the injured from the rollover to!