Whitehorse Daily Star

Bus driver, company sued following accident

A Kelowna, B.C., woman says she was seriously injured after crossing an intersection in Whitehorse when she was hit was by a tour bus in 2015.

By Emily Blake on August 18, 2017

A Kelowna, B.C., woman says she was seriously injured after crossing an intersection in Whitehorse when she was hit was by a tour bus in 2015.

Now she is suing the bus driver and the company that operates the tour bus for damages.

Mary Fournier recently launched the lawsuit in Yukon Supreme Court against the Whitehorse driver, Chris Braun, and Royal Hyway Tours Inc.

According to the suit, on Aug. 27, 2015 Braun was driving a tour bus north on Second Avenue.

Fournier was walking west across Second near the Ogilvie Street intersection when she was hit by the bus.

She says she suffered serious injuries from the collision. Those included fractures to her pelvis and left humerus, multiple injuries to her lower legs, and musculoskeletal injuries.

Because of the accident, the suit claims, she has also suffered a loss of the quality of life, including impairment of the ability to engage in domestic, social and recreational activities and a loss of income and earning capacity. She continues to incur expenses, the suit adds.

She has and will continue to require health care, home care supplies and other assistance, the suit says.

Fournier is seeking general and special damages, interest, costs and other relief.

The suit alleges that the collision and damages were caused by Braun’s negligence while driving. These allegations say Braun:

• failed to keep proper lookout;

• drove without due care and attention;

• failed to take reasonable steps to avoid the accident;

• failed to drive in a careful and prudent manner;

• drove at an excessive rate of speed;

• failed to keep the bus under proper control;

• drove the bus with faulty or inadequate steering apparatus and tires; and

• drove while distracted by an electronic or other device.

Neither Braun nor Royal Hyway Tours has responded to the suit.

The claims against them have not been proved in court.

Royal Hyway Tours, based in Seattle, is a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation & plc. with business in Alaska. It operates sightseeing buses in the Yukon under Royal Hyway Tours, Princess Tours and Holland America Explorer.

Comments (3)

Up 2 Down 0

Miles Ocean on Aug 24, 2017 at 5:02 pm

If you cross a street and a motor vehicle operator has time to stop but hits you I think it's on them.

Up 4 Down 23

Rt on Aug 20, 2017 at 4:59 pm

J walking is not illegal in Whitehorse like most other jurisdictions. How sad for this lady.

Up 35 Down 7

Gerry Nichols on Aug 20, 2017 at 12:04 am

If this lady was walking across Second Ave., NEAR the Ogilvie Street intersection, then she was J Walking which is against the law!

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