Gardaí still to interview school bush crash driver formally

Gardaí are waiting to gather further evidence before interviewing the bus driver at the centre of the worst school bus crash in Irish history, it emerged tonight.

The investigation team, which has already interviewed the 46 schoolchildren who survived the crash on the Navan-Kentstown road, have only spoken informally to the driver so far.

They also have to speak to the female driver of a car involved in the crash who is still in hospital.

Five teenage girls were killed when the bus overturned last week.

Gardaí have appealed to a lorry driver who was present at the time of the accident to contact them.

Superintendent Gerry Smith, who is leading the investigation, said there was no suggestion that the driver was involved in the accident but added that he might have vital information.

“He was supposed to be stopped at the traffic lights on the Navan side driving a sand lorry. We’ve accounted for everyone else that was in the vicinity at the time but we can’t account for this person.”

More than 100 statements have been taken as part of the Garda investigation so far.

Mr Smith said officers were continuing to investigate all circumstances surrounding the accident, including the state of the temporary road surface and driver behaviour.

The section of the Navan-Kentstown road where the bus overturned was being resurfaced when the bus overturned.

The road is now only accessible to local residents and remains closed to general traffic.

The Health and Safety Authority issued a prohibition notice to Meath County Council last week to halt roadworks there after it found that there was no safety plan or project construction supervisor in place.

A HSA source said prohibition notices were only issued when there was a serious threat to life.

The Council was also served with an improvement notice, setting out the work which had to be undertaken.

Both notices were complied with and the HSA has given permission for roadworks to resume.

Thousands of people turned out in Navan last week for the funerals of the five teenage girls: Amy McCabe, 15, of Hayestown; Deirdre Scanlon, 17, from Yellow Furze, Beauparc; Claire McCluskey, 18, from Rathdrinagh, Beauparc; Lisa Callan, 15, from Newtown, Beauparc; and Sinead Ledwidge, 15, from Senchalstown, Navan.

The lorry driver, or anyone who may know him, can contact the gardai at Navan Station on 046 9079930.