March 5, 2026 Team Contibutor
The Dominican Republic bus crash on the fateful Sunday evening of March 1, 2026, has left a pall of gloom at the house of the Fullertons. The incident claimed the lives of 2 Canadians killed in the Dominican Republic while injuring 13 others. Sources report that the bus was transferring guests from Punta Cana International Airport to hotels in the coastal town of Juan Dolio when it skidded near the Autovía del Este (the Cumayasa) in La Romana province (east of Santo Domingo).
The injured include John Fullerton (70), who may need spinal surgery and is the husband of the now deceased 67-year-old Colleen Fullerton of Lockport, Manitoba. The couple had left Winnipeg that same Sunday morning for a two-week vacation, just hours before the accident.
A Family Torn Apart – The Fullerton Story
A distraught daughter, Amanda, a Manitoba resident, is trying to make sense of the tragedy as she searches for answers. Both her parents and her uncle, who was accompanying them, were on the same bus. She got to know about the mishap from her uncle, who could barely talk, sounded visibly shaken, and could only communicate that her parents were injured.
Ever since, it has been an ordeal no family wishes to go through. She’s been relentlessly trying to get any information about the condition of her father in the absence of any official communication. She has asked Canadian consular officials for help.
Her worst fears came true when Dominican media published a list of those involved in the tragedy. The official RCMP notification on Monday afternoon only confirmed it.
She’s appalled and distraught at the delay from Canadian officials in contacting her and promptly giving information on her father’s condition.
She recounts that both her parents were inseparable companions. As avid travellers, they made sure to take two vacations each calendar year. She also adds that the Dominican Republic was not originally on the list. They had planned Cuba. They dropped it as news about the humanitarian crisis due to the oil blockade started pouring in.
She’s worried for her father, who owns a garage. She fears her father won’t be able to work if he goes under the knife.
What we know about the La Romana bus accident
Eyewitness accounts, confirmed by local officials, said the incident occurred in the popular La Romana area — the La Romana bus accident happening about an hour’s drive west of the popular resort area of Punta Cana and east of the capital, Santo Domingo.
The injured included tourists aged 37 to 72 and consisted of eight men and five women, according to the Dominican Republic’s National Health Service. Two injured passengers were transferred to a specialised trauma hospital, given their condition.
The Sunwing bus crash in the Dominican Republic involved a vehicle operated by NexusTours, a third-party provider contracted by Sunwing Vacations — a subsidiary of WestJet. The NexusTours accident 2026 marks a serious blow to the tour operator’s safety record in the region.
We do not have confirmed information about the second Canadian who lost his life, though there have been mixed reports in the local media.
Official Response: Canadians Killed in Dominican Republic Acknowledged
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand shared her “deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the two Canadian citizens who lost their lives,” and confirmed that Global Affairs Canada staff have been in contact with local authorities. Global Affairs Canada’s Dominican Republic consular team is currently coordinating on-site verification of identities and conditions of all injured passengers.
The Dominican Republic has one of the world’s highest traffic fatality rates, with almost 3,000 annual deaths on the roads, according to the WHO. Travellers are advised to exercise caution with ground transportation in the country.
The tourism company, Sunwing, has assured Amanda that it will bear the total cost of her father’s treatment as well as bringing her mother’s remains back to Canada.
Assistance and resources for Canadians
If you have loved ones in the area or are seeking information, here’s a list of official channels for quick support.
1. Global Affairs Canada (Consular Services)
The Canadian government provides 24/7 emergency assistance through the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa:
- Telephone: +1 613-996-8885
- Email: [email protected]
- SMS: +1 613-686-3658
- WhatsApp: +1 613-909-8881
2. The Canadian Embassy in the Dominican Republic
Global Affairs Canada’s Dominican Republic team — stationed at the Canadian Embassy in Santo Domingo — is currently providing on-site consular assistance and coordinating with local authorities to verify identities and conditions of the injured.
You can also contact the Emergency Watch and Response Centre (open 24*7).
- 📞 1-800-387-3124 (toll-free in North America)
- 📞 +1-613-996-8885 (from abroad, collect calls accepted)
- 📧 [email protected]
- X (Twitter): @CanEmbDR for official updates
3. Travel Provider Support — Sunwing / WestJet
Sunwing/WestJet has stated that they have a dedicated team assisting families affected by the Sunwing bus crash in the Dominican Republic. They have committed to covering medical expenses, burial costs, and repatriation travel expenses.
- If you booked through Sunwing, contact their emergency support line or your travel agent immediately for updates on specific passengers.
4. Registration of Canadians Abroad
If you have family currently travelling who were not on this bus, ensure they are registered with the Registration of Canadians Abroad service so the government can contact them in case of further emergencies.
Canada Travel News will continue to update this article as verified information becomes available.
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