School bus vs. train tragedy in Bunnythorpe near Palmerston North: trapped students smashed windows to escape

One of the first people at the scene of a fatal accident involving a school bus and a train described seeing students caught trying to break windows to get out.

Builder Tony Robertson, who was on his way to work with his son, was following the bus as it approached the intersection of Railway Road and Clevely Line in Bunnythorpe near Palmerston North.

The Feilding High School students were among 41 passengers on the bus that struck a train as it passed a level crossing around 8 a.m.

“The bus was turning a corner very slowly, it couldn’t go faster than 20 km / h,” Robertson said.

“Then they just collided.”

As Robertson called emergency services, his son and other drivers ran out of their cars to help the students who were trapped inside the bus.

They were unable to do anything to help the driver, who died during the collision.

“My son came over … there were people on the bus trying to open the windows.

“I think one of the passengers put the tool inside the bus to break the windows.”

Some brought out coats and blankets for the shocked high school students, he said.

“Everyone just stopped their vehicles and helped … one man pulled out his first aid kit.”

Robertson said he didn’t see any seriously injured passengers, but many were shocked and shocked.

St John’s ambulance said 40 patients were evaluated after the accident, some at the scene and others at the hospital.

Seven people were taken to Palmerston North Hospital for treatment, with injuries that ranged from mild to moderate.

A spokesperson for the MidCentral District Board of Health said only one high school student remained in the hospital last night in stable condition.

The company the bus driver worked for, Uzabus, said in a statement: “All of us here at Uzabus are deeply saddened by the loss of one of our colleagues who was involved in the accident this morning.

“Our team has been on site helping passengers and the police [and] We are grateful that the passengers on board at that time did not sustain significant injuries. “

KiwiRail CEO Greg Miller said the company was shocked to learn of the collision.

The train conductor was shaken but physically unharmed and was supported by personnel at the scene.

He was the only person on board the train, which was heading to Whanganui to collect log wagons.

The Transport Accident Investigation Commission has opened an investigation into the causes and circumstances of the accident.

Naveen Kozhuppakalam, the acting chief accident investigator, said two investigators were on the scene yesterday afternoon.

“The research team has expert knowledge of train operations, engineering and maintenance,” he said.

“His initial work will include inspecting the locomotive and bus, mapping the site, examining the rail systems such as signals, examining the vehicle components, looking for any recorded data from the vehicle electronics and obtaining maintenance records.”

The level crossing was reportedly protected with flashing lights and bells, Kozhuppakalam said.

Police described the accident as “extremely distressing” for everyone involved, particularly the young people on the bus, their families, and the relatives and friends of the dead driver.

Railroad safety charitable trust TrackSAFE NZ said it was saddened to learn of the accident.

“Our thoughts go out to all those affected, including whānau and friends of the deceased, passengers, emergency services, the locomotive driver and other rail personnel at the scene,” said Foundation manager Megan Drayton.

The accident was “an absolutely tragic reminder of how serious the result can be when a heavy vehicle collides with a train,” he said.

Drayton said there were around 3,000 level crossings in New Zealand and that trains always had priority.

“We strongly urge all motorists and pedestrians to be very vigilant when crossing train tracks, always look both ways for trains along the tracks before crossing, and obey all signals and signals at crossings.” .