Three people died and many others were injured when a double-decker bus crashed in Ottawa on Friday.
Today, the Ottawa Police Service identified the three people who lost their lives as Bruce Thomlinson, 56, Judy Booth 57, and Anja Van Beek, 65.
"The identification of those who died is a difficult and important process and I want to offer the condolences of the Ottawa Police and our entire community," said chief Charles Bordeleau.
“We have worked to support the families and loved ones of those involved and will continue to be there for them."
All three were public servants, as Thomlinson worked for the Canada Border Services Agency, Van Beek worked for the federal Treasury Board and Booth had retired from the National Capital Commission but will worked part-time.
Beside the three deaths, 23 people were injured and taken to hospital after the crash, with a number of the injuries being serious.
Const. Chuck Benoit said several people had to have limbs amputated.
A book of condolences has been set up at Ottawa city hall for those wishing to send messages of support to the victims’ families and Mayor Jim Watson signed it today.
“This is a very difficult time for our city,” he said. “Our city is grieving.”
A police investigation is ongoing and Watson urged people to refrain from jumping to conclusions.
"We want to find out how this happened and how to ensure it never happens again, but most importantly I don’t think it’s helpful at all for people to speculate on the reasons," he said.
"I have full confidence that (police) will do a thorough investigation and when appropriate release as much information as possible so we can ensure that this never happens again."
The bus, on an express route from downtown the the suburb of Kanata, wasn’t scheduled to stop at Westboro station on Friday.
It hit the roof of the station’s shelter, however, which cut right through the right side of the bus’s upper deck.
With files from the Canadian Press.
