A school bus driver has tragically died following a serious collision that left the vehicle on its side with children seen climbing out of its windows and roof
The driver of a school bus has died following a serious crash as children were being taken home.
The vehicle was carrying over 40 children from St Paul’s High School in Bessbrook, Northern Ireland when the collision left on its side on Tuesday afternoon, February 17.
The coach company responsible for the vehicle, Quinn Coaches, have confirmed that the “deeply respected” driver has tragically died.
A statement posted online said: “We are deeply saddened to confirm that one of our drivers was involved in a road traffic accident whilst transporting school children today. Despite immediate emergency response, our dear colleague sadly passed away. “Our first thoughts are with his family, friends, and fellow colleagues during this incredibly difficult time. He was a respected and experienced member of our team, and he will be greatly missed.”
Police along with ambulance and fire crews were called to reports of the collision on the Tullyah Road shortly before 3:45pm. Children were seen by eyewitnesses climbing out of windows and the roof.
The school confirmed that no students were injured.
“We are relieved to confirm that no children were injured during the incident. The safety and wellbeing of our drivers and passengers is always our highest priority,” the Quinn Coaches spokesperson added. “We are fully cooperating with the relevant authorities as part of standard procedure. We kindly ask that the privacy of the driver’s family and the school community be respected at this time.”
Dáithí Murray, principal of St Paul’s High School in Bessbrook, said in a letter to families: “We appreciate that this will have caused a significant shock to pupils who experienced the incident.”
Mr Murray added that members of the Education Authority’s Critical Incident Response Team will be at the school on Wednesday “to support pupils affected by the incident”.
Mr Murray added: “The thoughts and prayers of the St Paul’s community are extended to everyone affected by this serious incident today.”
The Education Authority has said it is providing “critical incident management support to the school” following the incident.
Newry & Armagh MLA Justin McNulty said all the children have walked away relatively unscathed and that the incident could have been much more serious. He added: “A school bus transporting children from St Paul’s High School to Whitecross crashed on the Tullyagh Road. Thankfully around 40 of them all walked away from the scene, and are home. A few of them had minor injuries but nothing serious.
“There are still concerns about the well-being of the driver, and my thoughts and prayers are with him and I’m hoping that he will be OK. This could have been very much more serious. When an incident involves a school bus crash, you hope the worst hasn’t happened. Thankfully, the children have all walked away relatively unscathed.”
