Northern Ireland: Multiple injuries reported after school bus carrying dozens of children overturns

A school bus transporting 43 pupils and a driver flipped over in an accident that occurred on Ballyblack Road East, near the village of Carrowdore in County Down, Northern Ireland.

Fortunately, emergency responders swiftly sprang into action, dispatching an air ambulance and a specialist rescue team to the scene.

According to the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS), four people have been rushed to the hospital for medical attention. Meanwhile, the remaining passengers are undergoing assessment, with many expected to be discharged from the scene.

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Eyewitness Dylan Lee, a 12-year-old pupil at Strangford Integrated College, courageously shared his harrowing account of the incident, providing valuable insight into the chaos that unfolded.

“The bus hit a post and it started to stall and went down this hill,” he said.
“It just started shaking. I closed my eyes and then I opened them and I was on the floor. The first thing I did when I got up was to phone my mum.”

Dylan said a man with a hammer smashed the windows so the children could escape.

“I was crawling under stuff like railings and school bags and stuff. It was on its side in the field,” he added.

His mother, Stacey Lee, said: “I could hear him screaming that he had crashed and I could hear all the kids in the background screaming. It was awful.”

The swift response of emergency services has been commendable, ensuring the well-being and safety of those involved. As investigations into the cause of the accident continue, concerns for the injured remain paramount.