Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
15 INJURED IN BUS CRASH HORROR
One person in ‘serious condition’ after runaway tanker collides with vehicle
THIS is the shocking aftermath of a crash between a tanker and a bus yesterday.
Fifteen people on the vehicle in Newtownards, Co Down, were injured, with 11 taken to A&E at the Ulster Hospital. A spokeswoman for the South Eastern Trust said: “One is in a serious condition.”
Passenger Robert Mccready added: “There were only about three of us who could walk away, the rest
were taken by ambulance to hospital or to A&E by family members.
“I was on the bus, it was the 4pm Newtownards to Belfast one on the Old Belfast Road, and I was on the phone and the first thing I knew was I could see the tanker uncouple from the tractor and it was rolling down towards the bus.
“It hit the side of us and the top popped off and all this liquid poured out. We did not know if it was water or petrol.
“We couldn’t get out through the front so had to exit at the back.” The 26-year-old told how the bus driver had to be cut from the vehicle by the fire service, with a number of passengers left with what looked to be serious leg and head injuries.
He added: “We were very lucky it wasn’t any worse.”
The South Eastern Trust said last night they were treating 11 people in the Ulster Hospital.
The PSNI appealed for witnesses to the crash to come forward. A spokesman said: “It was reported that shortly before 4.10pm a tractor, towing a trailer, was involved in a collision with a bus close to the junction of Ballybarnes Road.
“Fifteen people travelling on the bus were treated at the scene, a number of them were taken to hospital for further treatment. None of their injuries is believed to be life-threatening.
“Police are appealing for anyone who was travelling on the Belfast Road and who witnessed the collision to contact officers in Newtownards on 101.”