The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
No pupils injured in crash which killed driver
Thirteen children survive Mearns road accident unscathed
Thirteen pupils escaped injury in a road accident which claimed the life of a Mearns school bus driver.
The 68-year-old victim, who has yet to be named by police, was described as a “larger-than-life” character by Lathallan School at Johnshaven, whose children were on the coach when the crash happened.
The single-decker bus belonged to Laurencekirk firm M W Nicoll.
A DAF lorry and a red Audi A4 car were also involved in the collision, which happened just before 7.45am on the B979 South Deeside Road near Maryculter Bridge yesterday morning.
The male drivers of the car and lorry, aged 40 and 56 respectively, were taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary with nonlife threatening injuries, but the bus driver was pronounced dead at the scene.
None of the youngsters, who were on the coach as part of the daily bus run on Lathallan’s north route, were hurt.
The crash led to a major emergency response, with four ambulances, four special operations retrieval units and one paramedic response unit attending the scene.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service sent five fire appliances, including a heavy rescue unit.
The accident happened on Lathallan’s last day of term before a three-week festive break. Some of the pupils carried on to the school while others were collected by parents and taken home.
The crash closed the busy South Deeside road for several hours while investigators carried out inquiries.
Lathallan said children who were on the bus would be offered support.
Head teacher Richard Toley said thoughts and prayers were with the driver’s family, adding: “He was a larger-then-life character who was extremely popular with our pupils. “He will be missed by us all.” Staff at the Mearns coach company where the driver worked said they were thankful that none of the young passengers had been badly hurt but they were devastated by the loss of their workmate.
“The thoughts of our whole team are with the driver’s family and friends at this time,” said a company spokesperson.
“We are working with Police Scotland during the investigation and would like to thank the emergency services for their help this morning.”
Anyone who witnessed the collision or was travelling on the road at the time is asked to call police on 101.
Lathallan is an independent co-educational day and boarding school based at Brotherton Castle, on the Mearns coast just outside the village of Johnshaven.