Bus accident Friday caused by high winds from storm

A bus carrying 15 workers home from the Duck Pond mine in Central Newfoundland was blown off the Trans-Canada Highway Friday evening.

The accident occurred a few kilometres west of its Grand Falls-Windsor destination at approximately 5:30 p.m.

Some of the workers and the driver suffered minor injuries.

Larry Bartlett, general manager of the Teck Resources mine, said the workers told him it was a strange feeling.

"They said it was really strange, it was like the wind picked the bus up on the front," Bartlett said. "They stayed in their own lane, just went into the ditch and then turned over on its side.

"There was no slip, sliding or anything. It was just like the bus got picked up by the wind."

He said it was a matter of luck that most of the passengers were sitting on the right side of the bus when it was tipped over onto its right side.

Police said everyone got out through the emergency door at the rear of the bus.