A school bus carrying 40 elementary students slid off an icy road and crashed into a ditch this morning near Woodstock, sending four children to hospital. The latest on school bus crash is drawing significant attention.
- Location: Old Stage Road and Middletown Line, south of Woodstock
- Time: Shortly before 9 a.m. February 18, 2026
- Passengers: About 40 elementary school students
- Injuries: 4 children hospitalized with minor injuries
- Cause: Freezing rain making roads slippery
Emergency crews raced to the scene at Old Stage Road and Middletown Line around 9 a.m. The intersection sits about 60 kilometres east of London, Ontario.
Ontario Provincial Police Sgt. Ed Sanchuk confirmed the single-vehicle crash on social media. The bus went into a ditch after sliding off the road during treacherous morning conditions. Related: Tech Stocks Rally for Second Day as Nasdaq Jumps Nearly 1%
Four Students Treated for Minor Injuries: School Bus Crash Impact
All four children taken to hospital suffered only minor injuries, police said.
The remaining 36 students on the bus weren’t hurt in the crash. Related: Medicine Hat tops list as Canada’s most affordable city to buy
“As a father, your heart sinks when you see something like this first thing in the morning. The good news is that there are only minor injuries to report.”
That’s how Sgt. Sanchuk described his reaction to the school bus crash this morning.
Good Samaritans Help at Crash Scene
Several drivers stopped to help the students after the crash happened. Police thanked those Good Samaritans for stepping up when kids needed help most. Related: Edmonton Police Clear in Fatal Shooting, Won’t Face Charges
The Oxford OPP posted photos from the scene showing the bus tilted in the ditch beside the rural road.
Freezing Rain Creates Dangerous Driving Conditions
Freezing rain hit southern Ontario overnight and into the morning hours, making roads extremely slippery across the region.
Sanchuk warned other drivers to stay safe on the icy roads. Many school boards cancelled bus service today because of the dangerous conditions.
So what caused this particular crash? Police haven’t released specific details about how the bus ended up in the ditch. But with freezing rain coating the roads, it’s not hard to imagine how quickly things can go wrong.
Police Ask for Witnesses
The Oxford OPP wants to hear from anyone who saw the school bus crash happen. They’re also looking for drivers with dash cam footage from the area around 9 a.m.
People with information can contact the Oxford OPP at 1-888-310-1122.
The investigation into the crash continues. Police haven’t said whether charges might be laid or if mechanical issues played a role.
Bus crashes involving children always grab headlines, and for good reason. Parents send their kids off to school every morning trusting they’ll get there safely. But crashes like this remind us how quickly weather can turn routine trips dangerous.
Freezing rain doesn’t give much warning. Even experienced drivers can lose control in seconds.
The good news here? All 40 kids are going home to their families tonight. Four might have some bumps and bruises, but they’ll be okay.
“A BIG thank you to the Good Samaritans that stopped to assist,” the OPP tweeted about the crash response.
