Full Breakdown
Electrical Fault at Cultus Lake Waterpark Sends 12 Students to Hospital
6/16/2026, 6:44:29 AM
Incident Overview
On June 15, 2026, an electrical fault at Cultus Lake Waterpark near Chilliwack, British Columbia, injured twelve people, including Grade 6-7 students from Minnekhada Middle School on a field trip. Injuries occurred while queuing for the Zero-to-60 Raceway ride; all patients were reported stable after transport to hospitals.
Timeline
At 11:20 a.m., Upper Fraser Valley RCMP arrived; BC Emergency Health Services sent multiple ambulances, an advanced-care unit and two air ambulances. Initial reports of ten youths and two adults were corrected to twelve youths, no adults. By 6:20 p.m., RCMP said there was no ongoing public risk. The park announced a 48-hour closure the next day.
Parties & Response Resources
The Coquitlam School District (Ken Hoff) confirmed the field trip. RCMP (Cpl. Carmen Kiener) led the investigation. BC Emergency Health Services transported ten patients by ground ambulance and two by air ambulance. BC Hydro said the fault originated on the customer side. WorkSafeBC placed an officer on scene, and park chief administrative officer Andrew Steunenberg oversaw the shutdown.
Official Statements & Responses
RCMP called the incident isolated, noting no ongoing risk and no sign of deliberate human action. BC Hydro said public safety is its top priority and its probe found the fault on the customer’s side. Andrew Steunenberg said the cause was electrical, occurring when children touched a railing, and confirmed a 48-hour closure. The Coquitlam School District reported the eleven assessed students were stable; BC Emergency Health Services said all patients remained stable after transport.
Criticism & Concerns
Students and parents expressed anxiety about returning. “I don’t really want to go on Monday unless, like, they figure out what happened and, like, fix the problem,” said 14-year-old Matthew Deery, a student slated for a later field trip.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Early reports listed ten youths and two adults; later clarification identified twelve youths, no adults. RCMP says no deliberate human action, the waterpark cites an electrical fault, and BC Hydro attributes the fault to the customer’s equipment. Injury details remain unreleased, and the RCMP-WorkSafeBC investigation continues.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Our thoughts and our prayers are with the victims of this unfortunate accident and their families,” — Andrew Steunenberg, Chief Administrative Officer, Cultus Lake Waterpark
- “The safety of the public is our top priority, and we’re continuing to work cooperatively with the waterpark operator and will support the ongoing investigation in any way we can.” — BC Hydro spokesperson
- “Two were transported to hospital by air ambulance.” — Brian Twaites, BC Emergency Health Services spokesperson
Implications & Next Steps
The park’s closure and the joint RCMP-WorkSafeBC investigation will inform future safety protocols for amusement venues and school-organized trips. Authorities will monitor the site before authorizing any reopening.
