CFN – Another Bus accident for Cornwall Transit. York Street between 2nd and 3rd is closed after a bus and car had an incident.
Special thanks to Michel Lalonde for his photos! If you see news happen email your pics or video to info@cornwallfreenews.com or call our hotline at 613 361 1755.
No injuries were reported and we will update if more information becomes available.
UPDATED
Bus driver Esther Paquette was charged by Cornwall Police. CFN also received an angry call from the former Cornwall Transit worker pictured on the Freeholder’s website for their story. The gentleman was even further surprised as the charge was placed on a female driver!
Why is everyone in a hurry? Here in Ottawa everyone is in a hurry and so many accidents. If one hurries in little Cornwall you blink and you miss your stop. Maybe they are former bus drivers of Ottawa and Montreal – talk about rapid transit. LOL LOL.
These buses often go too fast & ride the car ahead of them,my sister often takes the bus,driver applied the brakes & she went flying into the person near her bending her glasses,could have been worse as she is frail
I’m not surprised when I see a Cornwall Transit accident! They drive like maniacs! Just last week I was driving 57 on Pitt Street and a bus flew by me…she had to be travelling at minimum 70 km/hr. Just because they are on the roads for a living doesn’t give them the right to take peoples lives into their own hands!
What was the first accident? I thought Transit had a long record of being accident-free.
I’m a frequent bus user, and I have seen the bus driver have problems with a sticking brake pedal before, to the point of having to yank it out of place by hand. As well as a few other things. People want to blame the bus drivers, though, when I’m pretty sure it’s those in cars that are the real problem.
I see it all the time when I’m riding the bus. People in cars thinking they have the right of way and trying to overtake the buses or squeeze by on a turn and almost get their car smashed.
I find it hard to blame the bus drivers, really, when it’s those in personal vehicles that don’t seem to know how to drive when a bus is around. The vehicle is bigger than you, so be smart about it!
And… I may be wrong, but it looks to be as if in the pictures of this accident like the car ahead was starting to turn, and the bus was rolling, too, and the car ahead must’ve decided to slam on their brakes rather than continue to turn.
That would mean it is not the bus driver’s fault. A vehicle as big as a bus cannot stop in a nano-second once starting to roll, unlike a car. And people don’t seem to realize that.
Consider a train. It takes a long time of slowing down before the train can make a complete stop. Same idea with buses. It’s because of the size!
I say, quit blaming the bus drivers. Simple as that.
You need to read CFN daily Amanda 🙂 http://cornwallfreenews.com/2013/06/bus-car-accident-on-montreal-road-in-cornwall-ontario-june-28-2013/
Lol, yes, Admin. I do need to. Haha. Thanks for the link.
The bus rear ended my car twice well I was stoped ay a red light at
Second st I was on york.
I did sustain injuries to my neck and back as I had pain right after being hit from behind twice.
so that’s what really happened thank god it was not a person or child
It’s not the bus drivers bloody fault people, it’s the people in the cars that are the problem. Cars run red lights and don’t look before they start to pull into the intersection at stop signs, etc.. I have almost been hit because a driver decided to start to drive as I while I was half way across st. Felix and first street, thank god I saw him at the corner of my eye and pulled back to narrowly miss getting hit, and on top of that cars don’t always se their turn signals when turning corners, or have their turn signal on and decide to cut back into the lane of traffic going straight…
people should honestly get their facts straight before assuming what happened. FYI both vehicles were stopped the car started to go then stopped that’s when the bus bumped into it lightly….someone might want to ask the passengers on board what happened before making this into a big story for nothing. The smallest things always get blown out of proportion maybe people should concentrate on more important things after all nobody is perfect and accidents do happen, that’s why there called accidents! Maybe people should also look at how many people are driven to and from their destinations safely everyday even in extreme weather conditions. Cornwall transit and their drivers go out of their way to serve the community most people just don’t get to see that part!
I agree Chris…this is a minor fender bender and nobody knows what mistakes the car made to trigger the accident! Why is everyone so quick to be negative and cruel and judgemental but when credit is due which is the case every single day to the bus drivers who get you to and from safely. The article says there were no reported injuries but now we see a back and neck injury, that will remain to be seen! Cornwall transit drivers are safe drivers and they are …YES THEY ARE human..if you look at the link the FREE news so kindly offered on the “other accident”….you will see not much to report there either. So cornwall, why don’t you appreciate the fact both the accidents were minor…they have a great track record and provide a service so many would not be able to get around without. Most appreciate the drivers like I do!! Let’s not jump on the drivers for minor mishaps and perhaps be grateful for the service that is served with a smile!!!
Although I am not 100% fluent in the rules on the road, if by chance there are different rules for buses, etc., but in my understanding, if someone is operating a vehicle and they are either at a stand still or having forward motion, that if any other vehicle is to come in contact from behind that it would be that operator’s fault. If the lead car today did proceed and then stopped again, the trailing vehicle must be within safe stopping distance to not cause contact. Although bus drivers must maintain a schedule, they also must be mindful of other vehicles. I passed by the accident today and even the simplest of people would be able to deduce that the bus had run into the passenger vehicle. I’m not blaming all bus drivers. I’m not blaming the actions of today’s driver, except for the fact that I believe that he/she is to be in the wrong, but I am blaming others that have taken the time to post on this site their personal feelings about more than today’s incident. I will eat my words if the driver of today’s bus is not found in the wrong. Someone had mentioned that the Cornwall Transit drivers go out of there way to provide for our community…it’s their jobs. The profession they chose was to chauffeur people across our city in a maintained timely fashion, which in turn they are paid. These are not good Samaritans that take up the wheel to make sure people get to their destinations. Once again it’s their JOBS. If today’s accident was the bus driver’s fault then so be it but I could almost guarantee that this will a wake up call to all motorists and a situation like today will not happen again for awhile until someone makes a bad error in judgment.
There is simply no excuse for a bus rear ending a car twice its does not matter if the car was stopped which it was or moving the bus driver was negligent in her dutyies she should have allowed herself enough distance from my car to stop without hitting my car twice.
It very well could have been much more serious if a person was hit and people are much smaller than a car and harder to see at times
Bus drivers are expected to maintain the highest standards as they have peoples lives in there hands
Bus drivers go out of their way in many way to assist passengers above and beyond their paid duty! It’s not a question of whether the driver of the bus was at fault or not it’s not. The bigger picture here is not of fault, it is of the media and people jumping all over a minor incident. How exactly did this bus rear end you twice? That’s a pretty good trick!
Much ado about nothing! The law says you must be in control of your vehicle at ALL times. If the bus rear-ended the car then it’s the bus drivers fault.
Let me see now its only a fender bender correct??? no injuries thank God the lady moved forward then stopped some one stated the bus then ran into her. I realize the majority of people in Cornwall break the law because when i wrote my driving test it was one car length for every 10 mph not sure of the conversion . in the end the bus driver should have left enough distance between his bus and the car ahead to be able to brake in fact the bigger the vehicle the greater the stopping distance if something should happen based on the speed of vehicles to me this is a clear case of tail-gating unless the car ahead put it in reverse . Hopefully the police laid charges I know if i hit a bus that stopped suddenly ahead of me i probably be charged however the police and driver are both fellow employees of the city am I not correct. this has nothing to do with drivers be kind and helpful to passengers
This about driving skills its even more important to get this on the record when a driver is responsible for passengers I hear the train driver in Spain was experienced and liked by many! to late for the many who perished but then again its really premature to judge him at this time before the details are released.
The driver in front may not have slammed on the brakes. He/she was at a 4 way intersection and sometimes (may not have necessarily been in this particular case) you have to pull a little bit ahead to see around another vehicle to be able to make your turn safely.
In either case, I don’t think the car in front slammed the brakes….more likely the bus just seems he/she runs the road. I do see a lot of maniac bus drivers….even the para-transpo buses.
FYI, I am from Ottawa and have never seen bad drivers like I have here!
Good! It’s about time a driver gets charged driving a bus. Apparently buses always have the right of way even if your beside them and they pull out I was told. Once I was driving down cumberland the bus was pulled over dropping someone off and without signalling the bus started to pull out when I was beside it. I had to swerve into on coming traffic so I wouldn’t get hit by the side of the bus. I called Cornwall transit office an complained and was just told that buses have the right away and that I should drive more carefully. WTH I was already beside the bus when it pulled out, not my fault the driver didn’t look before pulling out. I don’t care if buses are bigger then cars they shouldn’t have the right of way all the time because more then half the time they are in the wrong.
Pitt and second every half hour is crazy. Buses just pull out and don’t care if people are driving by. The way they see it the cars better brake or else we get hit by the bus.
Even if the car in front were at fault whether changing their mind of turning right or whatever it may have been, the one who hits from behind whether it be a bus or another car or a truck then the one who hits from behind is always at fault. People have to give enough room for the idiot in front to do their “act of insanity” so to speak and when the coast is clear then move on. This applies to cars, etc. There are buses and cars that should be taken off the road and have them repaired before putting them back on the road – they are hazardous to the public. Buses are the responsibility of the companies to make sure that they are in good working order. When the driver suspects something not working properly then they should report it to the company and have it fixed instead of continuing their trip on the roads.
hahaha it’s too late to judge the train driver in spain that killed like 79 people and is a know fact he was on the phone and going TWICE the speed limit…but it’s not too soon to jump to conclusions about this fender bender….you guys are too much!
*too early?
first of all, anyone who is a professional driver should know that staying a car length away at all times is the best policy. if a car or vehicle decides to go, it is automatic for our foot to release the brake and want to go forward. however, if you are a car length away in any given situation, you will have enough distance to avoid any contact or collision. proven fact!
accidents are not accidents because as mentioned before we are supposed to be in control of our vehicles at all times. as far as bus drivers, they do serve the community and yes it is the career path they have chosen, however they do serve the community and are often in stressful situations which can lead to unnecessary situations. they are caring, always at their best and willing to go the extra mile for only $2.75 a ride.
Donald Harding states:
I did sustain injuries to my neck and back as I had pain right after being hit from behind twice.
I agree the bus driver to be 100% at fault but really Donald? What you really are saying is you got hit and see $$$$$ signs right?. Give me a break.
I have been driving for 43 years and have never hit another vehical “EXCEPT” the car that went through a STOP sign ! Yes I am a Cornwall Transit Driver for 20 years and I see every day stupid drivers , cutting off, speeding, on cell phone, putting makeup on , I even had a saw a driver ride on the sidewalk to get to Timmy’s, so before you judge a Cornwall Transit Bus Driver , check out our accident records, you will be amazed, but also judge all other drivers on the roads, and I don’t think you will be amazed, Cornwall Transit Bus Drivers have an EXCELLENT Record, gets the facts before you judge ! Have you had an accident ? Judge yourself before others ? How did I do today?
You want to know how many times I get CUT off in a day. Don’t ask !
I have dealt with Ester many times when I worked home care, she is a nice person who was always very polite and professional towards me and my client…As people above mentioned the car ahead was surely starting to turn as he/she is way past the line and the bus assumed he would continue…It must be a demanding job driving a bus, yes sometimes they do go a little fast and can be intimidating for a small car but for Ester to be charged and out in the public eye as a reckless bus driver is a bit much…She seems like a hard working person who just recently obtained an award for safe driving ( published in the Seaway News not too long ago) and should be given more credit and appreciation…No one is perfect, we all make mistakes,working full time everyday is hard on everyone and mistakes are made by everyone.The incident should be resolved , damages paid and a lesson for both parties learned but for Ester to be charged and to lose her job that is way over the top,in my opinion.
Also….wow,, I read most of the comments and they are from most part very negative towards the bus driver,very black and white type of an attitude.Do you all walk a straight line each and every day of your life? Have you never made mistakes or were you lucky enough to pass them by without major consequence and in return learned a lesson? It’s so easy to judge but putting yourself in someone elses shoes is what makes every situation in life sustainable from a moral stand point..I can just imagine how Ester must feel after the impact this split second accident holds on her future and that is why I am defending her.No one sustained major injuries and throwing a book of rules at a hard working person without consideration of occasional leeway for human error is cold.How many of you read and live by the fine print each and every day? …No one is perfect,we can only learn from our mistakes and strive to do our best..
Many of the posts regarding the accident have nothing to do with the accident.
But are unfocused posts by bus drivers and other people stating how good they are and how great the cornwall transit record is and I believe some of that but these posts are nothing more that smokescreens in an attempt to cloud the issue.
The real issue is I was rearended by a bus and the bus driver was charged with following too close which was appropriate and a matter of public interest as someone could get seriosly hurt how good the transit system is has nothing to do with a bus driver hitting a car.
I sincerely hope this incident will motivate the cornwall transit to provide futher training to all drivers in regards to saftey and obeying the rules of the road and I hope this incident is a wakeup call to all bus drivers that they are not above the law and the police will enforce the rules of the road
@Derek Sheppard
here here!
Donald get over it, its an accident and she was charged, done deal, unless of course those $$$ signs you see are still clouding your brain. Derek you might want to stop posting in any news media, {MODERATED}
NO Donald Harding Yes you got rear ended by a City Bus and she paid the price for her fault, but the smokescreen are the people who HATE transit and have nothing better to do than to attack Cornwall Transit for a MINOR accident. Where were all of these remarks when a pickup ran a RED light at McConnell and 9th and did a lot of damage ? And Colleen from Ottawa , you better start buying the Ottawa Sun and read all the accidents or incidents that OC Transpo has, and the drivers there are ? I visit Ottawa once a month and can’t wait to get back to Cornwall
@eva
people are people, they judge everyone. we have to accept everyone for who they are and what they feel. you can never walk in another one’s shoes because you are not them no matter how you try. bus drivers chose their careers because it is what they feel is what is in their hearts. when accidents happen, it is a split second decision and sometimes never a good one. traffic has become very hard to deal with and so are people. no one cares about anyone any more. so yes, as drivers (bus drivers) they are faces with challenges everyday but i still feel they should be in control of their vehicles. distance is a powerful key when driving in any kind of traffic. there will always be people who judge that is life.
The police have laid charges as they should its now part of the drivers safety record there is a lessons to be learned for both bus drivers and the public a bus is a large object when a car and bus tangle the car usually comes up the loser , that Yield sign means yield on the back of the bus when a bus is leaving a bus stop, drivers need to be prepared for that to happen and The bus drivers need to realize that there is a point of no return for the car and they need to consider this when leaving a bus stop and not have a power trip by forcing the situation I have the right of way because of that little yield sign it happened to me many times especially at Pitt and second especially heading west . The police force should be on the look out for drivers that don’t obey the letter of the law as long as they do it fairly and allow for the point of no return once the buses signal light has been turned on that says we have to yield . At the same time bus drivers who enter traffic to soon after there signal or force another car out of there lane should be also have charges under the appropriate law just because you have stopped at a stop sign with a signal light on to turn right does not give you the right to pull out into the path of a oncoming vehicle. Maybe a few tickets will serve to increase everyone’s safety . Okay pinch me now me thinks I am dreaming !
OK OK enough said, yes I am a Cornwall Transit Coach Operator for 20 years and counting. Ester is an excellent driver , her record shows it, unfortunately she misjudged the situation. This was a minor accident. Just look around the City and see how many accidents there is every day. About maintaining higher standards, yes we do that every day, in all kinds of weather, our record shows it. Ester you are a great person and an excellent bus driver, keep up the good work. A lot of people posts things here just to take a shot at Transit, well you can’t break us, we are all pround drivers working for the City of Cornwall.
Ester you are a great Cornwall Transit Coach Operator , don’t let the negative letters get to you, you also have a lot of support , build from the positive, and to those people who want to degrade her driving skills , better check your own as I see many “STUPID” drivers every day, some people just don’t like Cornwall Transit UNTILL they need us , I have seen it many times, but thanks to all the support for Cornwall Transit and its drivers, we try our best each and every day, just check our record, it speak for itself!
@Eva
Eva the bus driver has a terrible responsibility and has to be alert every minute that he/she is on the road. You have to deal with all kinds of people both the good and the bad and when things get out of hand all they have to do is call the office or 911 for help.
About the driver in front that person can do a lot of wrong in driving and believe me I could see that by the way their vehicle was in the photo. Many times people want to turn right and then they change their mind and the vehicle behind will run into them simply by accident and this happens all the time. The driver behind whether it is your friend or anybody else has to keep far behind and make sure that the person in front is not going to pull a foolish stunt like that and end up hitting the idiot in front. Driving is a hell of a job whether for a living or just going to work or shopping.
Most likely the bus driver who is your friend is a very good person and I don’t think that people are knocking her character only her driving. Cornwall is a very small town unlike here in Ottawa and their driving habits should be a lot better than what we see here every single day here. I hope that things go well for your friend and that she learns from this valuable mistake. Take care and have a good day.
I’m retired now, but in my entire working life, I never made a single mistake! What’s wrong with people these days? They just don’t seem to care anymore.
Colleen from Ottawa are you serious about not seeing as bad drivers as Cornwall???? I can take you around everyday in our car and you would see plenty of bad drivers right here in Ottawa. Everyday it is like the Autoban in Germany racing at very high rates of speed, weaving in and out from one extreme left to the extreme right and vice versa and so on. It is enough to have a literal heart attack trying to get to your destination without going nuts or dying. Cornwall may have their share of bad drivers and yes I sure wouldn’t doubt that but in no way as bad as what we have here in Ottawa. Ask my husband and he says the same thing every single day that the worst drivers are right here in Ottawa and he said that to the cops and to the fire department men. Other than Montreal Ottawa takes the cake at bad driving. Bad driving is hardly the words to use. We see what goes on from our apartment windows let alone when we hit the roads.
I’ve driven in a lot of cities. Ottawa is the scariest.
Jamie you sure are right on that one. We always ask one another if people are driving on meds. People even go through red lights and you take your life in your hands every single day. The streets of Ottawa is like a literal race track.
Driving in Ottawa does stink, but Vancouver takes the cake for me.
hope you don’t drive Jules sounds like you tail-gate do you leave 3 car lengths when you drive in the city that is whats suggested biggest problem on the road every where leave a safe distance on the queens way(Ottawa ) and you will be cut off almost immediately at a 100 km hr .
Jules How can you judge a vehicles movement in a still photograph where clearly the car was hit from behind your quite a amazing person do you have any other mystical powers the Bus driver made a error she has been charged its on her record the system works sad her driving record is spoiled . I sure she a overall good driver .
“reality check” I do not drive and never wanted to ever drive and I see enough nuts on the road and I am not adding myself as another statistic. I do know a lot of the rules of the road and I do know that buses have priority even here in Ottawa – it is a law to let the buses go ahead.
About the car in front it doesn’t matter if they were turning right or changed their mind to go straight the law is whoever hits from behind is in the wrong and you have to have enough room between both vehicles in case any of this happens. Going through red lights poses great danger and I don’t think that the bus driver was going through any red lights in this picture. I have not been on a bus here in Ottawa going through a red light and I rarely get on unless I am going somewhere specific because otherwise I am always with my husband in the car. When I used to work I was constantly on them and was never in an accident in those days because there was less people than what there is today. People today are too much in a hurry and they leave their home very late and are racing to work, etc. Cornwall is so very small that there is no reason for any of that to happen. A lot of bus drivers including those in cars are maniacs nowadays and people do not care anymore for others.
@ reality check. You ask Jules… “How can you judge a vehicles movement in a still photograph….?”
Simple answer: Jules has amazing powers of perception.
I ride Cornwall Transit on a daily basis and have done so for over 35 years, I have seen drivers come and go but never have I had a bad experience to speak of, if anything I find it a very easy, safe and comforting way to get where I am going. This service is very dependable regardless of inclement weather, and drivers are very well trained.
As for Esther, she is just a wonderful individual always greeting everyone with a smile and a “Hello, how are you?”. I often find myself on her route and actually had the pleasure of riding with her most of this past winter on the community bus, and she is an excellent driver, who does not deserve to be charged for such a minor accident let alone have her name plastered all over the news and online.
In my opinion this is a clear case of defamation of character to both Esther and the Cornwall Transit, and the plaintiff is simply seeing dollar signs.
Esther please believe that you are a wonderful and caring individual and as for you driving abilities your driving record should speak for itself, and justice will prevail.
“reality check” when I worked in the federal government by dear supervisor used to say to me “tell me if you are going to drive so as I can clear the streets of Ottawa” and that is the truth – I could never handle driving at all I can assure you and everyone of that. There are people who are not made to drive and I happen to be one of them.
Soon my daughter and I will be on OC Transpo to go for tests and to the doctor. When we go downtown we take the buses. I have been on Cornwall’s Transit when we lived there and it was a nice short ride compared to what we have here and a great deal safer. We are in for our “joy ride” every time we get on OC Transpo. It is still a great deal safer than driving a car and I support the transit system. Tickets went up again like usual and I don’t mind paying for good service. Bus drivers have a terrible job and I know that after all the years that I used to ride them on a regular basis for work. My daughter rides them when she goes to work and it is no picnic especially when buses are over crowded.
“reality check” very few people are really meant to drive and the government gives people licences to bring in tax money and it also gives business to the insurance companies and car companies.
A lot of people should not be driving especially people with health issues.
@ Jules. A lot of people wouldn’t be allowed to do a lot of things if you had your way.
Re: Ed. So you were also “SPEEDING” @ 57 is over the speed limit ? Hello People are talking without the “True Facts” why don’t u become a Bus Driver ? Come on you have all the answers we would like to hear ? I am waiting ED ?
Thanks Julie for the support of course we are going to have mishaps , we drive a lot of hours , but do not deserve the insults of other people , we take a lot of crap from the public but brush it off of another day on the job, have a great day , gotta get up for another day at the Zoo ?
People here in Ottawa weave in and out of the lanes like you wouldn’t believe and if people are not 100% and more attentive to what the ningcompoops do at every second then there would be car crashes not just daily but almost every minute of the day. Driving on the Queensway is a trip to insanity and we drove on it a number of times until we got wiser. We take the long way around most times but at least we are safer to a certain extent. A lot of people will not drive on the Queensway at all whatsoever.