Bradd Arseneau leaves the courthouse in Bathurst, N.B., on Tuesday, after testifying at the inquest into the van crash that took the lives of seven high school basketball players and an adult 16 months ago. Arseneau survived the crash. (Andrew Vaughan/Canadian Press)

It was an emotional morning Tuesday at the coroner's inquest into the Bathurst van crash, as one of the two surviving players and the first RCMP officer on the scene described the horrific accident.

Bradd Arseneau, 17, survived the Jan. 12, 2008, accident that killed seven Bathurst High School basketball players and the coach's wife. With his parents listening in the courtroom, Arseneau explained how he was trying to sleep after a basketball game in Moncton and was listening to his iPod.

He told the inquest that he opened his eyes when he heard someone yell, but all he saw was a blur as the 15-passenger van he was in slammed into a transport truck on Highway 8 just outside of the northern city of Bathurst.

On that night, Arseneau said he was not wearing his seatbelt, even though his coach always told him to buckle up.

The accident left the teenager with four broken ribs and a bruised lung.

Off-duty RCMP officer 1st on scene

The five-person jury listened to another round of emotional testimony when RCMP Cpl. Mario Dupuis took the stand. Dupuis was the first person to arrive on the accident scene and did so by chance.

He was off-duty and driving home from a shift when he saw the transport truck stopped in the middle of the highway.

Dupuis wiped away tears as he described his efforts as he helped the driver and coach try to account for all of the passengers.

The results were devastating as he navigated the dark and ugly crash scene, coming across more of the victims. Eight of 12 passengers were dead.

For some parents in the courtroom, the recollections were difficult to hear. One of the fathers of the boys fought back tears as he listened to the police officer.

Mothers continue fight for tougher transportation laws

Ana Acevedo, left, and Isabelle Hains stand outside the courthouse in Bathurst on Monday. Acevedo's son, Javier, and Hains's son, Daniel, and were killed in the 2008 crash. (Andrew Vaughan/Canadian Press)

After the first day of the inquest, two mothers who lost their sons in the tragic accident said they continue to believe the province must strengthen school transportation laws.

The five-person jury heard from Austin Ward, the driver of the transport truck that collided with the Bathurst High School's van, and Wayne Lord, the team's coach and driver, on Monday.

Ana Acevedo, whose son Javier died in the crash, emerged from the inquest on Monday afternoon convinced that the province needs what she calls a van angels law that would forbid travel with students in bad weather.

"We have more reason to believe now that we need a van angels law," she said.

"To make sure that there is a law and uniformity in every school and every teacher has to learn about the guidelines and policies."

Road condition got worse that night

Lord testified that the weather that night was fine when the team left Moncton after the game. But he didn't call anyone in Bathurst to check the weather in the city, which is more than 200 kilometres away.

He said as they neared home, the driving conditions deteriorated to the point that the highway was covered in slush and he couldn't see the centre line.

'And I was upset too that he had a cellphone and he could have made a phone call that could have made a big difference in my life today.'— Isabelle Hains, mother

When he saw a transport truck coming toward him, Lord described how he inched the van to the right to give the big rig some space on the slushy highway.

But the van slid onto the shoulder and as Lord tried to straighten out, the van swerved too far to the left and slammed into the truck.

Isabelle Hains, whose son Daniel also died in the crash, has joined Acevedo in the push for a van angels law. She said some of the answers she heard from Lord were unsettling.

"And I was upset too that he had a cellphone and he could have made a phone call that could have made a big difference in my life today," she said.

The coroner's inquest is expected to last almost two weeks. The jury will have the opportunity to make non-binding recommendations to prevent future accidents.

Earlier reports conducted by the RCMP and Transport Canada have indicated the school's van was not in good condition and would have likely failed a safety inspection.

The RCMP collision reconstructionist's report in July said the van had worn tires, faulty brakes and a rusting body.