Fifty schoolchildren treated for injuries as bus and car end up in field
Up to 50 schoolchildren have been taken to hospital after a bus crash.
The accident happened on the Omagh Road, Drumquin, Co Tyrone.
The bus, which was travelling from Castlederg to secondary schools in Omagh, ended up on its side in a field. A car involved in the collision also landed in the field.
John McPoland from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) said 52 people were treated at the scene for injuries, which were not believed to be serious.
Most of the children and the occupants of the car were taken to the South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen but a number of young people were taken to Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry as a precautionary measure.
Mr McPoland said six people had “slightly more than minor injuries”.
“The vast majority need to be checked because of their age,” he said.
Sinn Féin councillor Frankie Donnelly, who visited the scene, said: “Visually, it looked like there was the potential for serious injury.
“When a bus and a car end up on their sides in a field at the edge of a road, it could have been terrible. But the fact that no one was seriously injured is something we have to be thankful for.
“I drive that road every morning and I know there is a very low sun on that particular stretch. I am sure there will be a full investigation to find out what happened but, from my own local knowledge, I believe that low sun may have been a factor.”
Mr Donnelly praised the emergency services for their response.
A spokeswoman for the PSNI said the Omagh Road, Drumquin, was closed between the Segully Road junction and Drumrawn Road junction.
Motorists were advised to seek alternative routes.
