The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) is managing a serious incident in County Down involving a bus carrying 43 passengers and a driver. The ambulance service announced on social media that it is responding to a major incident at Carrowdore involving a bus initially reported to have up to 70 passengers.
They confirmed multiple resources have been dispatched to the location and requested that 999 calls be limited to life-threatening situations during the incident. The number of individuals on board was later confirmed to be 44.
Dylan Lee, a 12-year-old student from Strangford Integrated College, was on the bus when it crashed. He described the event, saying the bus hit a post, began to stall, and then descended a hill, causing it to shake. He closed his eyes and found himself on the floor when he reopened them. His first action was to call his mother.
UPDATE: 58 people treated for injuries (the majority minor) after school bus crash in Co down. Pix Presseye pic.twitter.com/LBYldxOyKv
— Cool FM News (@newsoncool) October 7, 2024
A man with a hammer broke the bus windows to help the passengers escape. Dylan mentioned he had to crawl under railings and school bags as the bus lay on its side in a field. Stacey Lee, Dylan’s mother, recounted hearing her son and other children screaming over the phone, describing the experience as horrifying.
A specialist rescue team is present at the site of the bus crash in County Down. The ambulance service updated that they have assessed and treated patients on the scene, with four needing further hospital treatment. The rest are being assessed with the intention of discharging them at the scene.
The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service reported five fire appliances and a specialist rescue team at the scene of the road traffic collision involving the overturned bus on Ballyblack Road East, Newtownards. Local sources indicate the bus is a school bus from Strangford College. College staff are working to confirm if their students were involved.
What Other Media Are Saying
- BBC reports a significant incident in County Down as a double-decker bus carrying nearly 70 school children crashed, injuring pupils, with authorities and emergency responders present at the scene.(read more)
- Barron’s reports on a Northern Ireland school bus crash, where dozens of children sustained minor injuries and four required hospital treatment after the bus overturned near Belfast.(read more)
- r/northernireland reports a major incident declared after a school bus crash in County Down, with multiple ambulances and emergency responders on site, and images showing the bus overturned in a field.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
What is the major incident in County Down?
A bus with 44 people onboard crashed, leading to a major emergency response.
How many people were on the bus during the crash?
There were 44 people on the bus.
What did Dylan Lee describe about the bus crash?
He said the bus hit a post, started shaking, and eventually overturned.
Who helped the passengers escape from the bus?
A man with a hammer smashed the windows to help passengers escape.
How many people required hospital treatment after the bus crash?
Four people required further treatment at the hospital.