Inquest launched into the three deaths from 2019 Westboro bus crash

An inquest into the deaths of the three people who were killed in the 2019 OC Transpo double-decker bus crash is underway.

On July 15, Dr. Louise McNaughton-Filion, regional supervising coroner of the Ottawa office, said there would be an investigation into the deaths of Judy Booth, 57, Bruce Thomlinson, 56, and Anthonia Van Beek, 65.

The three sustained life-threatening injuries when a bus crashed into the Westboro station where they ultimately died from their injuries. Two of them were in the vehicle, the third was standing on the platform.

The incident happened at around 3:50 p.m. on Jan. 11, 2019 when the double-decker bus headed for Kanata crashed into the station. Paramedics said at the time 25 people were taken to hospital.

The inquest was called to look at the circumstances of their deaths. A jury may make recommendations at preventing further deaths.

The bus driver Aissatou Diallo, 44, was found not guilty of dangerous driving causing bodily harm in a trial that lasted over 10 weeks. Justice Matthew Webber said sun glare and road markers were a factor in the driver losing control of the bus.

Since the accident, a number of changes have been made at the station including a highly visible black and yellow strip near the platform’s edge and replacing no parking signs with no stopping signs.

With files from the Canadian Press.