According to the Yukon RCMP, passengers on a tour bus were injured after it rolled over on the South Klondike Highway on the afternoon of Sept. 6. The rollover necessitated the closure of the highway for hours and led to the cancellation of a portion of the Klondike Road Relay running race.
According to a Sept. 9 news release from the RCMP, its Carcross detachment was called to the rollover at kilometre 52 of the highway at 3:38 p.m. on Sept. 6. The highway was promptly closed as the RCMP and emergency medical services from both the Yukon and Alaska responded. Twelve of the 24 bus passengers, all on an excursion from a cruise ship docked in Skagway, Alaska, were injured in the crash. Those with minor injuries were transported to Skagway while the more seriously injured were taken to Whitehorse.
According to police, their investigation found that the driver of the bus experienced a "medical event" which caused him to veer off the roadway leading to the crash.
Traffic resumed at 6:20 p.m.
Legs one to three of the Klondike Road Relay, an annual running race that starts in Skagway and ends in Whitehorse, were scratched due to the bus crash with organizers citing safety concerns in setting up checkpoints along the route. The remaining six legs of the race were run as planned.
Contact Jim Elliot at jim.elliot@yukon-news.com
