LAST UPDATE | 7 Oct
FOUR PEOPLE ARE being treated in hospital after being injured when a school bus overturned on a road in north Co Down.
The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) said 43 people and a driver were on the vehicle when it crashed on the Ballyblack Road East in Newtownards, around 20km east of Belfast, earlier today.
Doctors, emergency rescue crews, advanced paramedics, rapid response teams and air ambulance officers were dispatched to the scene.
Northern Ireland’s public transport provider Translink has said it is assisting police with their investigation.
The bus had been carrying pupils from Strangford College to Bangor.
In an update this evening, NIAS said it has now “stood down” the response to this afternoon’s “major incident”.
A multi-agency response issued by the PSNI this evening states: “At 3:50 this afternoon, Monday 7th October an Ulsterbus containing pupils from Strangford College and the bus driver overturned on the Ballyblack Road East Newtownards.
The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service has now “stood down” this afternoon’s major incident. The service will remain busy for many hours as we deal with the backlog of calls. Please use 999 wisely and be patient if you really need to call us.
— NIAS (@NIAS999) October 7, 2024
“Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) declared a major incident and deployed numerous resources and specialist assets. 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.”
It said 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 and been taken home by their parents or 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 statement continued.
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.”
Mother’s phone call as bus crashed
The mother of a boy on a school bus which crashed in Northern Ireland has told how she could hear pupils screaming over the phone after the vehicle turned over.
Dylan Lee, 12, a year eight pupil at Strangford Integrated College, was with his mother Stacey Lee following the crash on the Ballyblack Road East near Carrowdore.
Dylan said: “I was on the top deck on the right hand side. I was just sitting with my friend. He is fine, he just hurt his arm.
“The bus hit a post and it started to stall and went down this hill. It just started shaking. I closed my eyes and then I opened them and I was on the floor.”
He added: “The first thing I did when I got up was to phone my mum.”
Lee said her son had a lump and a cut on his head.
She said: “I could hear him screaming that he had crashed and I could hear all the kids in the background screaming. It was awful.”
Dylan sad: “Then 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.”
In a short statement, the Police Service of Northern Ireland advised motorists to avoid the area.
The South Eastern health trust said it was responding to the major incident: “Our staff in the emergency department are preparing to treat anyone who needs our care.
“We would ask any patient not requiring emergency care to please use alternative services. If your condition is life-threatening, please visit the Emergency Department at the Ulster Hospital as normal.”
The chief executive of Translink Group Chris Conway- which runs the service – said his “thoughts are with all those involved in this incident”.
“We can confirm an Ulsterbus service carrying school pupils from Strangford College to Bangor has been involved in an incident on the Ballyblack Road East near Newtownards at just after 4pm this afternoon,” Conway said, adding that no other vehicles were involved in the incident.
“NIAS assessed and treated 43 pupils at the scene plus the driver, with four of the pupils taken to hospital for further treatment,” Conway said.
“Translink is assisting the PSNI with their investigations.
Local SDLP representative Will Polland said concerns had been raised multiple times about the road where the crash occurred.
He told the BBC: “First responders were on the scene as quick as possible and we are incredibly grateful for that.
“Our hearts and prayers go out, not just to those who are unfortunately involved, but those who have responded.
“We are keeping everyone in our hearts and minds at this point.”
He added: “This road has had concerns about it raised multiple times. I send all my prayers out to everyone involved in the incident. It is an absolute tragedy.”
With reporting from Press Association and Eoghan Dalton.
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