{
  "id": 15288091,
  "title": "Expert says bus model involved in deadly Calgary crash considered ‘extremely safe’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/expert-says-bus-model-involved-in-deadly-calgary-crash-considered-15288091",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-17T21:43:56.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Global News",
    "slug": "global-news-globalnews",
    "url": "https://globalnews.ca/news/12106621/calgary-bus-crash-safety-concerns/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "An expert on low-carbon transportation has stated that the approximately 1,000 compressed natural gas (CNG) buses operating in Canada are deemed \"extremely safe,\" despite one such bus being involved in a devastating crash in Calgary that resulted in three fatalities. On Thursday, a chain-reaction collision occurred when a transit bus struck several vehicles, subsequently rear-ending a parked bus. The impact ignited an explosion, leaving over a dozen others injured. Among the buses involved in the accident was a 12-metre-long vehicle powered by CNG, a fuel known for being cheaper and more environmentally friendly than diesel gas. Josipa Petrunic, president and CEO of the Canadian Urban Transit Research and Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC), explained that CNG buses are widely used in public transit and have been in operation for the past two decades. She emphasized that CNG buses are considered safe technology and called for an investigation into how an unsafe situation could arise during a crash. CUTRIC reports that there are 958 CNG-powered buses operating in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia. These buses feature several safety mechanisms, including tools and technologies to manage leakage and reduce the risk of fire, with tanks designed to withstand heavy impacts. The most dangerous aspect of these buses, according to Petrunic, is often the absence of seatbelts. Nova Bus, the manufacturer of the rear-ended bus in the Calgary crash, confirmed its involvement and stated that the company is cooperating with Calgary Transit and relevant authorities as they investigate the cause. Nova Bus emphasized that safety remains their top priority. Calgary Transit procures its buses from manufacturers that undergo Altoona testing, a rigorous certification process that assesses a bus model's durability and reliability before deployment in their fleet. The agency currently operates nearly 250 CNG buses, which make up around 20% of its fleet, with plans to add about 150 more this year to replace diesel buses. As investigators delve deeper into the crash's cause, industry leaders will also examine the factors that led to the catastrophic collision. Petrunic noted that a series of events had to align for such a tragic event to occur, adding that a transit crash should not result in passenger deaths.",
  "summary": "A chain-reaction crash happened when a transit bus hit several vehicles before rear-ending a parked bus, igniting an explosion that left three dead and more than a dozen injured.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "CityNews",
        "title": "Expert says bus model involved in deadly Calgary crash considered ‘extremely safe’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/expert-says-bus-model-involved-in-deadly-calgary-crash-considered",
        "published": "2026-10-17T19:44:37.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Bus model involved in deadly Calgary crash considered ‘extremely safe,’ expert says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/bus-model-involved-in-deadly-calgary-crash-considered-extremely-safe",
        "published": "2026-10-17T19:44:37.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Global News",
        "title": "Expert says bus model involved in deadly Calgary crash considered ‘extremely safe’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/expert-says-bus-model-involved-in-deadly-calgary-crash-considered-15285999",
        "published": "2026-10-17T21:43:56.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}