Eight pupils hospitalised as school bus collides with van head-on

EIGHT school children as well as the drivers of their bus and a van were rushed to Letterkenny University Hospital yesterday morning.

Both vehicles were involved in a head-on collision near Carrickmore in St Johnston.

The pupils were on their way to two schools, Deele College and the Royal and Prior Comprehensive, Raphoe, when the accident occurred at 8.15am.

Up to 20 children were onboard the 53-seater coach – and all of the pupils who were hurt had been discharged from hospital last night.

Both the driver of the bus and the van driver were among those taken to hospital, with the van driver suffering the most serious injuries.

Relieved

Dr Martin Gormley, director of schools at Donegal ETB, said they were relieved to hear that there were no major injuries to the students of Deele College or the Royal and Prior Comprehensive, Raphoe.

“The priority for the management and staff was the well-being and welfare of the students and their families at this worrying time,” he said.

Garda Inspector Michael Harrison said the incident could have been much worse. He has appealed to any witnesses in the area to come forward.

Both the van and the bus have been taken away for further inspection in a bid to determine the cause of the crash.