Children have lucky escape after bus collision

Eddie Cassidy and Tom Shiel

Twelve passengers, nine boys and three girls, believed to be from the Wicklow area, were taken to Tallaght Hospital and treated for minor cuts, bruising and shock following the accident yesterday afternoon.

In a separate accident yesterday, two women from Co Roscommon died following a crash in Co Mayo.

A driver in his 20s, in a second vehicle, was admitted to hospital.

Meanwhile, a major emergency response plan was put into action following the accident in Co Wicklow with nine ambulances dispatched to the scene to back up gardaí and the fire services.

Gardaí said none of those hospitalised had life-threatening injuries.

“Most of them suffered minor scrapes and shock,” a garda spokesperson said.

The collision occurred around 4pm at New Long Hill, near Kilmacanogue.

The vehicles were travelling from the Roundwood direction along Rocky Valley road towards the N11, the main Dublin to Wexford road. Witnesses said the accident involved a rear-end collision on a narrow, winding road, near the Sugar Loaf mountain.

Concerns about bus safety, in particular coaches carrying children, have increased since the May 23 accident in Co Meath when five children died after a Bus Éireann vehicle, carrying 51 schoolchildren, careered off the road at Kentstown near Navan.

Yesterday’s fatal accident in Co Mayo, in which two women lost their lives, occurred around 5.10pm on the N5 near Bellavary, Castlebar.

The deceased were travelling in the same car, a Ford Focus.

The young driver in the second vehicle, believed to be from Westport, Co Mayo, was admitted to Castlebar General Hospital with “serious injuries”.

Gardaí said the names of the victims will not be released until next of kin are informed.

They appealed for any witnesses to contact officers at Castlebar station, 094 9022222.