Bus Crash Report

LAURA DAY                           THE EXAMINER                       08/11/17                               BUS CRASH 1

One man dead in school bus crash

A driver has been killed and two children are missing after a school bus crashed into a canal on St Andrews Road this morning.

The single-decker school bus operated by Wing-It Bus Services was carrying 16 school children and three teachers on their way to the seaside.

Police said a witness claimed the bus swerved to avoid a motorcyclist and resulted in them crashing into the canal at Aspley Basin.

When the emergency services arrived on the scene at Aspley, the bus was half submerged and a lifting crane was used to rescue the panicking children and teachers.

A fire engine attended along with 4 police divers and every available ambulance in the area were sent to the scene, it is believed that eight ambulances were used.

Jo Wooley, the driver of the bus, was rushed to hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Fourteen children and three teachers were pulled out of the vehicle and taken to hospitals in Barnsley, Halifax and Huddersfield.

The three members of staff, Alice Summers (35), Jaemes Gordon (46) and Stephen Rose (42) whose conditions are serious, were taken to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.

The other two 10-year-old children have still not been found yet but are being searched for by police divers at the scene, it is presumed that they are dead.

Jo Wooley, 43, who had worked for Wing-It Bus Services for seven years, was described as an exemplary employee who was dedicated and valued.

A key witness, Rita Telford, who lives near the scene of the crash described hearing a ‘horrendous bang’ and when looking out of her window she was shocked by the sight of school children with blood all over them and were crying.

Police Chief Inspector, Maxwell Murdock has put out an appeal to find the motorcyclist and anyone who has information needs to come forward.

Ends