PSNI arrest lorry driver over Tyrone bus crash

A 44-year-old lorry driver has been arrested over the bus crash in Co Tyrone which has left one teenage girl dead and seven others injured. One of the girls in hospital is critically injured.

The girl who died in the accident was a 16-year-old, police said later.

A nine-year-old girl was critically injured. Five other pupils - aged 7-17 - suffered a range of other injuries, none of which were thought to be life-threatening.

The 47-year-old bus driver was discharged from hospital after treatment for a neck injury.

The driver has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, said police.

The collision between the bus and lorry happened on the Ballygawley Road at Caberagh in Co Tyrone.

The bus was hit by the lorry at a spot on the A4 at Quinn's Corner as it was about to turn into St Mary's Primary School, where it was about to drop off seven pupils.

There were another eight pupils from St Ciaran’s High School, Ballygawley, on the bus, which ended up in a field.

The road is one of the busiest in the North and there have been demands for it to be upgraded after a series of deaths.

The North's Education Minister Caitriona Ruane expressed her concern at the crash.

The minister said: “I have been deeply upset by the news of this morning’s incident and my thoughts go out to those affected by the accident.

“The Southern Education and Library Board are providing support to the schools involved through their critical incident response team at what will be a very difficult time for the families, schools and communities involved.”

The injured children were being treated at the Craigavon Area Hospital, where worried parents and churchmen gathered.

Counsellors were also on hand to help the parents and pupils.

Democratic Unionist peer Lord Morrow, the Assembly member for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, abandoned a sitting in the House of Lords to return to Northern Ireland following the crash.

He said it must have been a terrifying ordeal for the children on board.

“My thoughts are very much with the injured and those who witnessed this shocking incident.

“The fact the bus ended up in a field shows the impact it must have taken when struck.”.

He said he was returning immediately from Westminster and travelling directly to the scene.

Lord Morrow said the particular stretch of road was “extremely treacherous and has claimed too many lives and left others injured”.

The peer added: “This collision further underlines the need to dual-carriageway this road, which whilst it is accepted this is now starting, could not be completed too soon.”

The school bus is understood to be part of a new fleet which was fitted with seat belts, but it was not known if the children had been wearing the belts.