School Bus Driver Dies in County Armagh Crash Involving 40 Children
A school bus driver has tragically died following a serious collision in County Armagh that left the vehicle on its side. The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon, February 17, as the bus was transporting over 40 children from St Paul's High School in Bessbrook, Northern Ireland.
Emergency Response and Eyewitness Accounts
Police, ambulance, and fire crews were called to the Tullyah Road shortly before 3:45pm after reports of the crash. Eyewitnesses described a harrowing scene, with children seen climbing out of the bus through windows and the roof to escape the overturned vehicle.
The coach company, Quinn Coaches, confirmed the death of their driver in a statement online. They expressed deep sadness, noting that despite immediate emergency response, their colleague sadly passed away. The company described him as a "deeply respected" and experienced member of their team, extending thoughts to his family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time.
School and Community Reaction
In a relief to parents and the community, the school confirmed that no students sustained injuries in the crash. Dáithí Murray, principal of St Paul's High School, acknowledged in a letter to families that the incident caused "significant shock" to the pupils involved.
Members of the Education Authority’s Critical Incident Response Team will be at the school on Wednesday to provide support to affected pupils, Mr. Murray added. He extended the thoughts and prayers of the St Paul's community to everyone impacted by the serious incident.
Political and Official Statements
Newry & Armagh MLA Justin McNulty commented on the crash, noting that all children walked away relatively unscathed and that the situation could have been much more severe. He expressed concerns about the driver's well-being and hopes for his recovery, emphasizing the relief that the children escaped with only minor injuries.
The Education Authority has stated it is providing "critical incident management support to the school" in the aftermath. Quinn Coaches reiterated that the safety and wellbeing of drivers and passengers is their highest priority and that they are fully cooperating with authorities, while requesting privacy for the driver's family and school community.
