A school bus carrying around 70 people crashed in Northern Ireland today, leading emergency services to declare it a major incident. The incident occurred on Ballyblack Road East near Carrowdore in Co Down, where police and ambulance services quickly responded.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland categorized the crash as a “serious road traffic collision,” while the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service labeled it a major incident involving a bus with up to 70 passengers. Multiple resources were dispatched to the scene to assist.
The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service reported that five fire appliances and a specialist rescue team were present at the site of the overturned bus on Ballyblack Road East in Newtownards.
According to ambulance services, more than 50 passengers either sustained minor injuries or were unharmed, while eight individuals were receiving treatment for more significant injuries at the scene. The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service sent a variety of medical personnel, including doctors, emergency crews, advanced paramedics, rapid response paramedics, ambulance officers, and the Air Ambulance with a HEMS crew onboard.
The situation remains ongoing, and the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service will provide further updates as more information becomes available. The focus is on ensuring the safety and well-being of all individuals involved in the crash.