Six passengers aboard a Salt Spring Island Transit bus were treated for minor injuries following a Monday morning collision on Fulford-Ganges Road at the top of Lee’s Hill.

“It’s a miracle,” said Salt Spring RCMP Sgt. Danny Willis. “Based on the look of that crash, there should have been somebody in very ill health, but there were no injuries.”

An RCMP investigation indicates that the driver of a northbound SUV crossed the centre line and collided with the Fulford-bound bus on a sharp curve in front of Salt Spring Vineyards at approximately 9:40 a.m.

Willis said the black Chevrolet Tracker hit the bus’ front left side, slid along the side of the bus, took out the bus’ rear axel, flipped off the road and ended up against a large shrub.

The force and angle of impact destroyed the bus’ front and rear axels.

Willis said both the SUV and the bus were damaged beyond repair.

“Thanks to her seatbelt and the vehicle’s design, the [SUV] driver was uninjured.”

The drivers of both vehicles were taken to Lady Minto Hospital by ambulance as a precautionary measure. Both were conscious following the accident.

Police identified the SUV driver as a 53-year-old woman from Quadra Island. Both drivers were released from hospital on Monday afternoon.

Salt Spring RCMP officers blocked traffic along Fulford-Ganges Road as the Salt Spring Fire Rescue Department used the Jaws of Life to extract the female driver from her vehicle and cleaned up the area.

Speed is believed to have played a factor in the collision, Willis said.

Cross-island traffic was redirected along Cusheon Lake and Stewart roads until Fulford-Ganges Road was reopened by 11:30 a.m.

“This is our first major collision and luckily nobody was killed,” said Bob Fenske, chair of the Salt Spring Island Transportation Commission, immediately following the crash. “Right now everyone is a bit shaken up.”

Fenske called on transit passengers to be patient as the commission deals with fallout from the incident.

Salt Spring Transit operator Ineke De Jong said she arrived at the crash site as rescue crews were finishing up at the scene.

De Jong awaits word from ICBC and BC Transit to determine when a replacement bus will be available and how much it will cost.

Salt Spring Transit’s two remaining vehicles will be able to meet the existing schedule, she said.

“Thank goodness it’s the low season,” she added.

“Hopefully in a few days we will get a new bus.”

An original version of this story and a photo were posted to www.gulfislandsdriftwood.com at 11 a.m. Monday. Sign up for Twitter on our website to receive breaking news alerts from the Driftwood.