EIGHT school children escaped with minor injuries when their bus was involved in an accident close to the Donegal-Derry border.
They were among ten people taken to hospital when a school bus and van collided on the road between Derry and the border village of St Johnston shortly after 8am yesterday.
It is understood the injured children were all passengers travelling by bus to Deele College and Royal and Prior secondary schools at Raphoe in Donegal.
Garda Inspector, Michael Harrison said the drivers of the bus and the van were also injured in the incident. Inspector Harrison said none of the injuries sustained were believed to be serious.
Inspector Harrison said: “A 53-seater bus came into collision with a van heading in the opposite direction. There were about 20 children on the bus at the time. Eight of these children have been taken to hospital; they were heading to school in Raphoe.
“We have made contact with the principals in Raphoe; we have informed them of who the children are to contact any of the parents involved.”
The Donegal Garda inspector said no-one was seriously injured in the accident.
“It could have been a more serious incident that what it was,” he said.
Inspector Harrison said road conditions were very wet at the time. The road was closed to facilitate a full investigation but was expected to re-open by lunchtime.
