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The driver of a bus carrying school students who died yesterday after an accident in Bunnythorpe could have been blinded by a sunburn, says Uzabus managing director Justin Allan.
A school bus collided with a train in Bunnythorpe yesterday, killing the bus driver. Source: rnz.co.nz
Ambulance personnel evaluated about 40 patients, including Feilding High School students, at the scene early yesterday morning. Student conditions ranged from moderate to minor.
However, the driver died from his injuries.
“It’s been a huge shock to everyone here. We’re a pretty close-knit team, so something like this happening is pretty devastating,” Allan said.
“The driver has been with us for about three or four years, so she is a solid part of the team, it is very annoying.”
The company is working closely with authorities to find the cause of the collision with the train north of Palmerston North, just before 8 a.m.
An internal investigation will consider the vehicle, the driver and the stop at the rail crossing at the intersection of Railway Road and Clevely Line will be reviewed, Allan said.
The driver was “very familiar” with the route, he said.
“Sun’s rays have been mentioned as a contributing factor.”
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The accident occurred at the intersection of Railway Rd and Clevely Line in Bunnythorpe. Source: Supplied
Seven people were taken to the Palmerston North Hospital emergency department after the accident and two were still in the hospital last night.
“There have been some communications with the school and clearly the children … who were on board were quite shocked,” Allan said.
“We are truly blessed that there were no more serious injuries to the passengers on board.”
The driver was well known to children and would be missed, he said.
“The driver was very passionate … she loved her children. They will surely feel this, without a doubt.”
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Around 40 people, mostly children, were on the bus at the time. Source: 1 NEWS
KiwiRail CEO Greg Miller said the train driver was the only person on board the train when the accident occurred. The train conductor was not physically injured, but was shaken by the crash, which caused minor damage to the train.
The level crossing where the accident occurred is protected by flashing lights and bells, but Manawatū District Mayor Helen Worboys said it was one of several high-risk areas where roads intersected with the railroad.
Miller said a car and train narrowly missed the crossing in 2011, but there had been no other accidents there in the past 15 years.
The Transportation Accident Investigation Commission and WorkSafe have initiated investigations into the causes of the collision.
The Acting Principal Accident Investigator for the Transportation Accident Investigation Commission, Naveen Kozhuppakalam, calls on anyone with information to come forward, especially motorists with dash cam footage.
