This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-29303949

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Drumquin crash: School children taken to hospital after collision Drumquin crash: School children taken to hospital after collision
(35 minutes later)
Forty-eight people, most of them children, involved in a crash between a school bus and a car in County Tyrone were taken to hospital as a precaution, the Ambulance Service has said.Forty-eight people, most of them children, involved in a crash between a school bus and a car in County Tyrone were taken to hospital as a precaution, the Ambulance Service has said.
The crash happened on the Omagh Road in Drumquin on Monday morning.The crash happened on the Omagh Road in Drumquin on Monday morning.
Ambulance Service spokesman John McPoland said 48 people were treated at the scene for injuries, but none of these were serious.Ambulance Service spokesman John McPoland said 48 people were treated at the scene for injuries, but none of these were serious.
The bus was travelling from Castlederg to a secondary school in Omagh. The bus was travelling from Castlederg to secondary schools in Omagh.
"The vast majority need to be checked because of their age," he said."The vast majority need to be checked because of their age," he said.
Mr McPoland said six people had "slightly more than minor injuries".Mr McPoland said six people had "slightly more than minor injuries".
He said this would have included children who banged their heads off the bus windows, but he said no-one went through any windows.He said this would have included children who banged their heads off the bus windows, but he said no-one went through any windows.
'Relatively unscathed'
Mr McPoland said three of the 48 patients had been brought to hospital by ambulance service A&E crews due to the nature of their injuries, which although not serious, required further assessment.Mr McPoland said three of the 48 patients had been brought to hospital by ambulance service A&E crews due to the nature of their injuries, which although not serious, required further assessment.
The children and the occupants of the car were taken on two Translink buses to the South West Acute Hospital and Altnagelvin Hospital.The children and the occupants of the car were taken on two Translink buses to the South West Acute Hospital and Altnagelvin Hospital.
They were accompanied by paramedics.They were accompanied by paramedics.
It is understood both the bus and the car ended up on their sides in a field. Both the bus and the car ended up on their sides in a field.
Local councillor Frankie Donnelly visited the scene of the crash. Local councillor Frankie Donnelly, who visited the scene of the crash, said it was fortunate that "everybody has come out of it relatively unscathed".
"Luckily, there appear to be no major injuries," he said. "On that stretch of road that I travel every day early in the morning, a bright sunny morning, there would be a very low sun there and that may have been a factor in this accident," he said.
"You think of the possibility of what might have happened. Damage to a bus or damage to a car is neither here not there, it's the people inside who are important. Luckily, it seems that everybody has come out of it relatively unscathed.
"On that stretch of road that I travel every day early in the morning, a bright sunny morning, there would be a very low sun there and that may have been a factor in this accident."
The Omagh Road has been closed between the Segully Road junction and Drumrawan Road junction.The Omagh Road has been closed between the Segully Road junction and Drumrawan Road junction.
The bus involved in the crash was operated by Translink.The bus involved in the crash was operated by Translink.
In a statement, the company said: "We can confirm that an incident has occurred involving an Ulsterbus carrying school pupils and a car on the Drumquin Road, County Tyrone, at approximately 8.20am.In a statement, the company said: "We can confirm that an incident has occurred involving an Ulsterbus carrying school pupils and a car on the Drumquin Road, County Tyrone, at approximately 8.20am.
"Emergency services were called to the scene and an investigation in under way." "Emergency services were called to the scene and an investigation is under way."
Education Minister John O'Dowd said: "My department will be engaging with all schools involved to ascertain if we can be of further assistance and ensure that any help that can be provided will be provided."
The Western Education and Library Board said its critical incident response team had been in touch with the schools to offer support.