School bus carrying 40 children flips off-road in Northern Ireland crash
A school bus carrying dozens of children has flipped off a country road in Northern Ireland.
Ambulance services and police have rushed to the scene of the crash in Belleeks, southern County Armagh, at 3pm today.
Pictures from the scene show a double-decker bus on its side as emergency responders try to gain access and seal off the road.
The children caught up in the wreckage were able to exit the vehicle safely.
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The school bus is thought to have carried around 40 children, according to the Northern Ireland Assembly member Justin McNulty.
All of the children ‘walked away from the scene and are home,’ he said.
Mr McNulty added: ‘It could have been much more serious but thankfully when an incident involves a school bus crash you hope the worst doesn’t happen but thankfully the children have walked away unscathed.’
The crash left the pupils in ‘significant shock,’ principal of St Paul’s High School, Dáithí Murray, said.
The pupils should attend school tomorrow ‘if they feel well enough’ and they will be signposted to support services, the headteacher added.
At least five ambulances, two advanced paramedics, one officer and an ambulance doctor were dispatched to the scene.
A spokesperson for the PSNI said: ‘Road users are advised of a collision in the Tullyah Road area of Belleeks between Newtownhamilton and Camlough.
‘Please avoid the area and seek alternative routes.
‘An update will be issued in due course.’
The B134 Tullyah Road remains closed both ways due to the collision, traffic analyst Inrix says.
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