Children lucky to escape without serious injury after bus from special school ends up on its roof following horror crash in Augher
A COUNCILLOR described as incredible the fact that no one was killed or seriously injured in a horror crash involving a school minibus that ended up on its roof in a garden.
The bus from Sperrinview Special School was involved in a collision with a car at around 3.30pm yesterday on Knockmany Road in Augher, Co Tyrone.
The distinctive yellow Education Authority vehicle was left battered and upside down in the garden of a house, just inches from its front living room window.
The car was left wedged in a hedge.
Witnesses described hearing the children scream and cry for help.
Emergency services, including the Air Ambulance, rushed to the scene, although it was not needed.
The four children on board were helped to safety through a rear door by the bus driver and another woman passenger, as well as those nearby who went to the scene.
Three men and some of the children were taken to hospital.
Their injuries were described as relatively minor, with just cuts and bruises, and they were discharged shortly afterwards.
The remaining adults were expected to be discharged last night.
“Given the scale of the accident, it was very fortunate indeed there was not a fatality — incredible, really,” Ulster Unionist councillor Robert Mulligan said.
He lives about two miles from the scene and was there within minutes of the accident.
“The children had to be helped out through the back of the bus,” he said.
“The bus driver was up on his feet and able to help, he was great. The woman in the car was also helped out of her vehicle. The car was left high up a hedge.
“The children were collected by their parents.
“They were traumatised, which isn’t surprising given what they must have been through, but they were very lucky.”
Mr Mulligan said the homeowner was not in at the time and was left shocked at what greeted him when he arrived back.
He said the incident happened at a busy time and close to a junction, but it wasn’t a known blackspot. The Education Authority confirmed one of its vehicles was involved in a crash and it was offering support to those involved.
Police said they were investigating the accident.