Quebec school bus and van collision kills 4

Four people are dead and several others are injured after a minivan collided with a school bus near Berthierville, Que.

The accident happened just before 9a.m. ET ona highwaynear Berthierville, about75 kilometres northeast of Montreal.

Threepeople died on impact or shortly after the collision, while a fourth person was reported dead several hours later.

Provincial police have not identified the victims but they said the four people killed were in their 20s and early 30s.

Benoit Richard,with Quebec provincial police,said for an unknown reason,the driver of the minivan veered into the oncoming lane.

"For an unknown reason, [the driver]came out of his lane andcame right in front of a school bus that was going on the other side," Richard said.

"There was a collision with both vehicles, in the truck where there wereeight people inside, three of them died on the scene and five were sent to the hospital in critical condition."

The injured were transported to a hospital in Joliette, and three were later transferred to Sacr-Coeur hospital in Montreal.

The Canadian Press reported that the four surviving van passengers were seriously injured.

Richardsaid severalof the students who wereon the buswere taken to hospital to be treated for shock.

The school bus was carrying 12 students from Pierre De Lestage secondary school in Berthierville.

Hears cries for help

Alain Charlebois, whoworks near the scene, rushed outside when he heard a loud noise.

He could see lifeless bodies in the van and hear other passengers calling for help.

"It's one of the worst scenes I've seen in my life," Charlebois said.

Dany Morin, wholives near the scene of thecrash, said he arrived minutes after the collision and recognized the van.

He said the minivan was carrying workers from a poultry company.

"Its a small company that cleans and transports chickens," Morin said. "My brother and cousin work for the company. They had just finished working."