Five girls killed in Meath crash

Five teenage girls were killed today when a school bus overturned in an horrific crash in Co Meath.

The bus was taking more than 40 youngsters home from secondary schools in Navan when it was involved in a collision shortly before 5pm in Kentstown.

A Garda spokesman confirmed the fatalities and said a number of children were seriously injured.

Several other vehicles were also involved in the crash on the road between Navan and Duleek and an unconfirmed number of people were taken to hospital.

A spokeswoman for the Health Service Executive north eastern area said nine ambulances were called to the scene.

She added injured children had been taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda and to the major Dublin hospitals.

Caroline McDonnell, a teacher at a Montesorri school in Kentstown, said the bus had been returning pupils to the area from schools in Navan.

“The bus was full of girls and boys from different schools returning home,” Ms McDonnell said.

“Some of our neighbours’ children were on the bus and they have left to go the scene.”

Ms McDonnell said it was understood the bus was travelling through Kentstown and on to the nearby parish of Beauparc.

Gardaí, fire brigade crew and ambulances attended the scene of the accident.

A number of children were trapped in the wreckage of the bus, which was left lying stricken on its side for a time, but all casualties were later taken to hospital, a fire service confirmed.

A Bus Éireann spokeswoman said its accident investigators were attending the scene.

“We don’t know the reason for the accident. At this point our main concern is that the victims of this accident are treated,” she said.

“The reports we are getting are that it was a school bus and two other vehicles were involved.”

Meath Fire Service spokesperson Mary Maguire said the road will remain closed for up to 36 hours.

She said: The emergency call was logged at 4.29pm. Several fire units rushed to the scene from stations in Meath and Drogheda.

“All casualties have now been removed from the scene to hospitals.

“The cause of the accident is not yet known.”

The Meath Fire Service has set up an incident room at County Hall, Navan to advise on traffic restrictions in place.

The telephone number is (046) 90 21581.

Guesthouse owner in the area, Patsy McDonnell travels past the scene of the accident every day.

He said: “It’s not a particularly dangerous stretch of road, but there were road works there today.”