Driver dies after car, school bus collide in North Sydney, N.S.

A man is dead following a collision with a school bus Wednesday morning in Cape Breton.

A 53-year-old man has died after a car and school bus collided in North Sydney, N.S., Wednesday morning.

Cape Breton Regional Police responded to the collision near the intersection of Archibald Avenue and Pleasant Street around 8:45 a.m.

Police say the students were removed from the bus and some were treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Police say the driver of the car was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries. He has since died from his injuries, according to an update Wednesday afternoon.

The Cape Breton-Victoria Regional Centre for Education (CBVRCE) confirmed one of its buses was involved in the collision and 29 students from Memorial High School in Sydney Mines, N.S., were on the bus. They wouldn’t say how many students were taken to hospital.

“Passengers and the bus driver were assessed by EHS and and some students were transported to hospital for further examination,” said Heather Calder, a spokesperson for the CBVRCE in a statement to CTV News.

“School and regional staff are working to ensure appropriate supports are in place for students and staff involved.”

Calder added the CBVRCE is working with police as they investigate.

Angela Iannetti heard the crash from inside her home on Archibald Avenue Wednesday morning and rushed outside to see what happened.

She has lived in the area for about 30 years and says there have been many collisions at that intersection. She believes it should be turned into a four-way stop.

“A man lost his life. That’s horrible. There were kids on a school bus that so much more could have happened,” said Iannetti.

“An accident, if there’s any way we can avoid any accident from happening, if it’s as simple as two extra stop signs, I think that’s a wonderful step in the right direction.”

Archibald Avenue was closed to traffic between Pierce and Pleasant streets as traffic safety investigators and forensic identification officers processed the scene. It has since reopened to traffic.

The cause of the collision is under investigation.

With files from CTV News Atlantic’s Ryan MacDonald

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