Local politicians send their regards to families and emergency services
Public urged to avoid overwhelming the local hospital
The South Eastern Health Trust said staff in the nearby Ulster Hospital were treating a “number of patients” involved in the bus crash.
‘We would ask any patient not requiring emergency care to please use alternative services,’ a statement added.
A school bus which was carrying 43 children crashed in a ‘serious road traffic collision’, with four people rushed to hospital and two children initially trapped inside.
Police and ambulance services attended the scene which was described as being ‘like a battlefield’ on the Ballyblack Road East in County Down, Northern Ireland.
The bus overturned and ended up sideways in a field beside the rural road near Carrowdore and Strangford, a village 30 miles from Belfast.
The wrecked blue bus was pictured toppled on its side in a field, cordoned off and surrounded by police after it careened off the road with children ‘screaming’ in fear.
Shocking images from the scene show the shattered windscreen and schoolchildren standing next to it, clutching their bags, after a man with a ‘hammer’ smashed the windows so they could climb out or be pulled to safety.
One child was reportedly stuck when their arm became caught and another when their leg was trapped. All of the children have now been removed.
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The bus company was Ulsterbus, a spokesperson confirms
A Translink spokesperson said: ‘We can confirm an Ulsterbus service carrying school pupils from Strangford College to Bangor has been involved in an incident in Ballyblack Road near Newtownards at just after 4pm this afternoon.
‘PSNI and emergency services have been called to the scene.’
Strangford College tells parents not to go to the scene of the crash
Clare Foster, principal at Strangford College, told parents to stay away from the scene and instead go to the school.
The statement reads: ‘We are currently dealing with an incident involving one of our school buses. Two other buses have been delayed due to this incident but will be leaving soon.
‘Please can I ask that parents do not come to the scene as this is causing obstruction with the emergency services. An incident desk has been set up at the school and I would ask that any concerned parents attend the incident desk at the College rather than at the scene. An update will follow as soon as possible.
‘The Newtownards and Comber buses are leaving now and following their normal route. Any student left will be transported back to school.’
The bus hit a ‘pole or a post before shuddering’ and falling
Witnesses told BelfastLive that ‘children can be seen helping pull [other] children’ out of the bus.
It is unclear what caused the crash, but it is thought the bus was headed to Newtownards. No other vehicles are thought to be involved.
The majority of those onboard are from Strangford College.
One witness said the bus hit a ‘pole or a post before shuddering’ and falling into a ditch and another described the scene as ‘like a battlefield’.
Watch: Footage from the scene of the crash
Children were rescued when the windows were smashed with a ‘hammer’
Pictured show the wrecked blue bus toppled on its side in a field, cordoned off and surrounded by police.
Shocking images from the scene show the shattered windscreen and schoolchildren standing next to it, clutching their bags.
One child was reportedly trapped on the bus after their arm became stuck and another when their leg was trapped. All of the children have now been removed.
Dylan 12, a year eight pupil at Strangford Integrated College, said: ‘There was this guy came down with a hammer and the windows were all being smashed so we could get out.
‘I was crawling under stuff like railings and school bags and stuff. It was on its side in the field.’
School bus carrying 43 children crashed in a ‘serious road traffic collision’
A school bus which was carrying 43 children has crashed in a ‘serious road traffic collision’.
Four people are being rushed to hospital and two children were reportedly stuck in the vehicle.
Police and ambulance services attended the scene on the Ballyblack Road East in County Down, Northern Ireland.
The bus – carrying 43 children and the driver – overturned and ended up sideways in a field beside the rural road near Carrowdore and Strangford, a village 30 miles from Belfast.
