Four children injured after school bus crash into a ditch in Norwich Township, located east of London, Ontario, on the morning of Wednesday, February 18, 2026. The crash occurred shortly before 9:00 a.m., and police have confirmed that freezing rain was a major contributing factor, causing the road to be covered in a layer of ice.
The bus was carrying around 40 elementary school students from East Oxford Central Public School when it veered off the road and ended up in a ditch. Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) in Oxford County responded to the scene, and paramedics took the four injured children to the hospital. Fortunately, their injuries were reported as minor. Despite this, the accident was a wake-up call for the community, highlighting the dangers of winter driving conditions.
Constable Randi Crawford from the OPP stated that the investigation into the crash is still ongoing but confirmed that the icy road conditions were likely the primary cause of the accident. Crawford noted that the area was still experiencing freezing rain, and the roads remained icy even after the incident. She praised the quick response of emergency services and the bus operator, who were able to manage the situation despite the difficult conditions.
The students were transported on a Thames Valley District School Board bus, and the board expressed gratitude for the efforts of the bus operator and first responders. The school board also mentioned that the nonprofit consortium responsible for bus cancellations had already made the decision to cancel some buses and close schools in anticipation of the storm, which was causing hazardous weather conditions across southern Ontario. The crash occurred in a region on the edge of a freezing rain warning issued by Environment Canada, which had predicted up to seven millimeters of ice buildup, slippery roads, and strong winds.
Crawford emphasized that, while the investigation is ongoing, no other contributing factors have been identified apart from the weather. She also commended the Good Samaritans who stopped at the scene to offer assistance to the shaken children and bus driver.
In the aftermath of the crash, Old Stage Road between Middletown Line and Old 14 Line was temporarily closed, though it has since reopened. The crash has raised concerns about the safety of students traveling in these icy conditions, and authorities are reminding everyone to be cautious when driving during such severe winter weather.
