• On Highway 97C-Okanagan Connector, a passenger bus was travelling west.
• It ran off the road and turned onto its side in the eastbound lanes.
• The collision took place halfway between Merritt and Kelowna, Canada.

A Christmas Eve bus disaster in southern British Columbia claimed the lives of four people and hospitalized more than 50 others, according to Canadian police.

“We can confirm, tragically four passengers were found deceased,” a news release from the BC Highway Patrol and Royal Canadian Mounted Police said. Authorities have not identified the deceased.

According to the press release, the commercial passenger bus was heading west on Highway 97C-Okanagan Connector when it ran off the road and turned onto its side in the eastbound lanes.

“The road conditions were described as very poor with ice and snow on the road surface along with rain and hail falling,” authorities said.

According to the press release, the bus driver is working with the police.

The collision, which took place halfway between Merritt and Kelowna, involved only one car. The region is around 100 kilometers (62 miles) north of the US-Canada border.

BCEHS is currently on scene for an accident on Hwy 97C near the Loon Lake exit. Multiple ground units are on scene at this time. More on the way. This remains an active scene and updates will be posted here once available.

— BC Emergency Health Services (@BC_EHS) December 25, 2022

Authorities have not yet established the precise number of people on the bus, and many of those hurt were taken to nearby hospitals before police had a chance to identify them on the site.

Interior Health, the local health authority, reported late Saturday that medical teams at three area hospitals were treating at least 53 victims after the collision.

Interior Health said the incident on Highway 97C prompted a “Code Orange” response, a hospital designation used in disasters or mass casualty events.

According to Interior Health, a hotline has been established up to help families find their lost loved ones who were involved in the accident.

There were no other facts provided, and the cause of the incident is still being investigated.

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