Major incident declared as school bus carrying up to 70 people overturns

The incident happened on the Ballyblack Road East in Carrowdore, near Newtownards, on Monday afternoon with the bus carrying up to 70 people.

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said over 50 of the passengers have minor injuries with eight patients being treated for more significant injuries at the scene.

It despatched multiple resources to the scene including doctors, emergency crews, advanced paramedics, rapid response paramedics, ambulance officers and the air ambulance.

Police have asked motorists to avoid the area and said diversions are in place following the single vehicle crash.

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service also posted to Facebook asking people to “Please only call 999 if your situation is life-threatening while we deal with this incident”.

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service said five appliances and the specialist rescue team are currently at the scene.

Local councillor Robert Adair, who has spoken to a number of parents and police, said the vehicle is a school bus.

“It’s every parent’s worst nightmare,” he said.

“A child’s journey to and from school always causes worry and this is just horrendous.

“I am asking everyone to pray at the current time while emergency services deal with this clearly very serious situation.

“I am also appealing to drivers to give crews the space they need by staying away from the area.

“My heart goes out to everyone affected – the children, their families and of course the bus driver.

“This has really, really shaken the entire community.”

It’s understood the bus was transporting pupils from Strangford College to Newtownards at the time of the crash.

The Belfast Telegraph understands that children were pulled out of windows of the vehicle which tipped over into a nearby field.

Parents of uninjured children have received telephone calls advising them to collect their kids from a local police station.

An eyewitness described the scene “like a battlefield” and said they have no doubt “other parents will be getting calls telling them to go to the hospital”.

The South Eastern Trust said it is responding to a major incident and that staff in the Emergency Department at the Ulster Hospital are preparing to treat anyone who needs our care.

“We would ask any patient not requiring emergency care to please use alternative services,” they added.

“If your condition is life-threatening, please visit the Emergency Department at the Ulster Hospital as normal.”