Alberta students hurt as minivan crashes into classroom

Three Grade 6 studentswere leftin critical condition and five others injured aftera minivan crashed into aclassroom at aschool in St. Paul, Alta., Thursday morning.

The three most seriously injured studentswere takenby air ambulanceto Edmonton, said Kerry Williamson, spokesman for Alberta Health Services,which runs St. Therese Healthcare Centre in St. Paul, where the remaining five were taken.

Three of those five injured studentshave since beenreleased from hospital, he said.

Two of the seriously injured students underwentsurgery and remain in critical condition.The third student taken to Edmonton is in stable condition. The driver of the minivan a 46-year-old man from St. Paul was taken into custody.

RCMP said the man received minor injuries in the crash and is in hospital.

"There's various aspects of this investigation that we are looking at and ruling in or out," said Chief Supt. Randy McGinnis.

"One would be impairment, impairment by alcohol or a drug, and the other reason for this accident could be a mental condition."

Witnesses told CBC News that before the crash, a white minivan was racing through back alleys in St.Paul. McGinnis said there was only one person in the van at the time of the crash.

RCMP saidthevehicle left the road and drove into the side of the classroomwhere Grade 6 studentsofRacette Junior High School were taking French. The class was being held in the old Glen Avon School building.

"I heard a big boom," said Grade 7 student Sydney Cross. "The lockers collapsed and smoke came everywhere ...and I heard a lot of screaming. I'm still kind of scared because there was screaming. Glass flew out of the door."

Three childrenwere pinned beneath the vehicle, police said.

"It was really traumatizing," said student Kyra Fontaine. "I was worried about who was in the classroom because you know so many people when you're going toschool in such a small community."

Fontainesaid students were "bawling"when they learnedabouthow seriously one student wasinjured.

"You never think it would happen to your school and when it happens you get pretty shocked."

People stressed and scared

"My children said they heard a loud crash," said parent Michelle de Moissac. "Myson specifically said he heard a lot of screaming, which was the scary part.

"And then teachersjust frantically they have certain teachers there that are there for emergency like that, have the first aid and suchand so they were all running to go see what was going on," she said.

"But he's very upset. He was freaking right out when I picked him up."

The minivan entered the classroom and dropped about two metres, disappearing from view outside the school,said Robin Tremblay, a woman who works nearthe school.

"I just see broken windows. It's wide open, it's definitely wide open. People running in and out, like firefighters and police officers."

Tremblay's friend was in the classroom above the crash scene at the time, she said.

"She's really stressed and scared. She's been texting her mom telling her she's OK. She said it sounded like an earthquake."

"Seen two stretchers come out," she said. "Pretty sure a larger stretcher and two smaller stretchers.

"I'm hoping everybody's OK. I'm praying nobody's seriously injured."

School closed on Friday

The school was evacuated after the crash and students were bused to three other schools in the area, said St. Paul education superintendent Glen Brodziak.

The school will be closed on Fridayto allow officials to evaluatethe structural integrity of the building.

If necessary, officials plan to move all 250 students to the regional high school in St. Paul.

"It's important at this time to keep them together," Brodziak said.

Brodziak commended the actions of staff for how they responded to thecrisis.

Emotion crept into his voice during the Thursday afternoon news conference as he described his reaction as a parent.

"There's probably a lot of parents in this room and it is hard to imagine. When we send our kids to school, there's a level of expectation for all of us," he said.

"That troubles me. That troubles us."