Devastating Bus Crash Claims Life of Beloved Pastor

A somber mood has fallen over the Grande Prairie Seventh-day Adventist Church following a tragic bus accident that claimed the life of Lillian Banda, a 50-year-old nurse and cherished church leader. The incident occurred on Saturday evening as Banda and 36 other congregants, including her husband and two youngest children, were returning home from a Bible competition in Edmonton.

The charter bus veered into a median near Debolt, approximately 60 kilometers east of Grande Prairie, resulting in a rollover. Passengers, including very young children, were ejected from the vehicle, with some found up to 50 meters away. The remote highway, darkness, and the shock of the event initially hindered efforts to call for assistance, until a youth managed to contact police.

Banda was pronounced dead at the scene. Five adults and a six-year-old boy were initially transported to the hospital in serious condition. While three adults have since been released, two are awaiting surgery for fractures. Another woman, identified as a new immigrant from Jamaica, remains hospitalized with multiple severe injuries, including cracked vertebrae and broken ribs. Her daughters are being cared for by a church member while their father, who sustained a broken shoulder, has been discharged.

The investigation into the crash is ongoing, with no updates provided by authorities as of Monday. The passengers were part of the church's Pathfinder group, a youth organization similar to Scouts, which frequently travels between Edmonton and Grande Prairie. The accident has cast uncertainty over upcoming group activities, with organizers awaiting parental input.