Major incident declared after 'school bus' carrying 70 passengers crashes in Northern Ireland
7 October 2024, 17:02 | Updated: 8 October 2024, 00:08
The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service is dealing with a "major incident" after a school bus with dozens on board overturned in County Down.
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The incident happened on Ballyblack Road East on Monday afternoon and involved a school bus.
The NIAS said "43 school children on the bus +1 driver" are injured, four of those will "require hospital treatment".
However, no one was seriously injured.
Some of the passengers sustained minor injuries but are all expected to be discharged at the scene.
A specialist rescue team attended, including five fire appliances.
5 Fire Appliances & the Specialist Rescue Team are currently at the scene of a road traffic collision involving an overturned bus on the Ballyblack Road East, Newtownards.
— Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (@NIFRSOFFICIAL) October 7, 2024
Motorists are advised to avoid the area.
More details to follow. pic.twitter.com/0oRdGpRDv0
The school bus was transporting students from Strangford College to Newtownards at the time of the crash.
One witness told the Belfast Telegraph it looked “like a battlefield” and said parents of uninjured children have already been contacted.
Police have advised drivers to avoid the road and find an "alternate" route.
"Motorists are advised to avoid the Ballyblack Road East in Newtownards, as police and colleagues from the emergency services are currently at the scene of a one vehicle road traffic collision," a statement said.
"There are diversions in place."Please seek an alternative route for your journey."
Emergency services said in an updated statement: "At 3:50 this afternoon, Monday 7th October a Ulsterbus containing pupils from Strangford College and the bus driver overturned on the Ballyblack Road East Newtownards.
"Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) declared a major incident and deployed numerous resources and specialist assets to the scene. Five Fire Appliances as well as police attended the scene.
"Firefighters using specialist cutting equipment rescued two casualties from the bus and provided support to NIAS for a number of other casualties.
"A casualty centre was set up at the school for a period of time but all children have now left the scene of the collision. All were either taken home by parents/guardians or transported to hospital.
"NIAS treated and discharged 33 people at the scene. Four children were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Several patients have also self-presented at the Ulster Hospital.
"The Ballyblack Road will remain closed for some time while police conduct an investigation into the circumstances of the collision. Diversions remain in place.
"The Education Authority will be working with the school in the coming days to provide support for any children impacted by today’s events."
Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said on social media he was "deeply concerned" and his "thoughts and prayers" were with the people involved, their families and emergency services.
DUP MP for Strangford, Jim Shannon said: "Our thanks go to the police service, the NIFRS, the ambulance service, as well as the air ambulance.
"We are unsure of the scale, however the fear is palpable," he added.
"Thoughts and prayers will be with parents and children during this uncertainty."
