A small school bus caught fire after a three-vehicle collision on Highway 2A north of Blackfalds on Tuesday morning.
The Aspire Special Needs Resource Centre bus was on its way to pick up pre-school students.
RCMP said another vehicle failed to cross the highway when safe to do so and was struck by an oncoming vehicle, forcing one of the vehicles into the lane of the oncoming bus at the intersection of 400 Township Road.
"Ultimately the bus crashed into one of the involved vehicles and started on fire," said Alberta RCMP Cpl. Troy Savinkoff.
Blackfalds RCMP responded to the collision, and charges under the Traffic Safety Act were being considered.
Blackfalds Fire Department said when firefighters arrived on scene shortly after 8 a.m. the engine of the bus and the driver's section was on fire. Unfortunately, flames did spread through the rest of the bus which was destroyed. The two other vehicles involved in the collision were a pickup truck and an SUV.
A statement from Aspire said there were no children on the bus, and that two staff members were able to disembark from the bus on their own.
"They were both taken to hospital, but it was more precautionary. They had minor injuries and expected to be treated and released very quickly," Savinkoff said.
Aspire is a charitable organization, located in Red Deer, that provides diagnostic and assessment services, school and family services, and a specialized preschool program along with a Summer Park IT program and Triple P parenting program.
Each year Aspire serves over 1,000 Central Albertans including children, their families, physicians, schools and community partners.
