About 40 elementary school students were aboard a bus that slid off a rural road in Norwich Township on Wednesday morning, sending four children to hospital with minor injuries.
The single-vehicle crash happened around 8:55 a.m. at Middletown Line and Old 14 Road, south of Woodstock. Police said roads across Oxford County were slippery, with temperatures hovering near the freezing mark at the time. The bus ended up nose-down in a ditch.
Ontario Provincial Police Sgt. Ed Sanchuk said some first responders may have had children on board, calling it a frightening situation for families. He confirmed that only minor injuries were reported.
Students were shaken but remained calm while waiting for parents and a replacement bus to arrive. Officers also acknowledged several bystanders who stopped to help immediately after the incident.
Old Stage Road was temporarily closed between Middletown Line and Old 14 Line during the investigation but has since reopened. Police continue to ask any witnesses to contact them as they review the circumstances surrounding the crash.