School bus crash in Maclean
AN 11-year-old Harwood girl was taken by ambulance to Maclean Hospital with neck injuries yesterday morning while others were treated for injury after two school buses collided at Maclean.
The buses were carrying 28 primary school-aged children from Gulmarrad Public School and St Josephs Maclean and crashed in rain about 8.30am near the corner of River and Taloumbi Sts.
Sergeant Darren Williams said the driver of the bus that smashed into the rear of the other bus will be issued with an infringement notice.
"A combination of weather conditions and driver error (caused the accident) I would say."
"Two Busways buses were travelling in a northerly direction on River St in Maclean and when they have reached the intersection of Taloumbi St, for an unknown reason one of the buses has collided with the rear of the other bus," he said.
Police said the bus, which collided into the rear of the other bus, was carrying three students, while the lead bus had 25 students aboard.
"The ambulance on the scene treated seven children for minor injuries and an eighth child was transported to Maclean Hospital for checking up after she was complaining of neck injuries."
Sgt Williams said initial investigations indicated a seat dislodged in the crash may have been responsible for the injury to the 11-year-old girl.
"There was a seat in the back of the bus and when they hit it has caused the chassis to flex a little bit and we figured out the seat had actually collapsed onto her."
Both buses were red-label defected by police at the scene.
"This means they have to be towed from the scene; they are grounded," Sgt Williams said.
The bus that was hit in the rear suffered panel damage and engine damage when the impact drove the fan into the radiator.
The second bus had a smashed windscreen and panel damage.
After receiving the red defect notices both vehicles will have to be repaired and passed by RTA inspectors before being allowed to carry passengers again.
Sgt Williams said with all the recent rain the incident was a timely reminder for motorists to leave a sufficient gap between their vehicle and the vehicle they were following.
"Particularly with the rain we are experiencing at the moment all drivers need to be mindful they need to increase their stopping distance."
"This is a result of what can happen if drivers don't adhere to that rule."
