Woman involved in South Auckland school bus accident thought she was going to die

One person was seriously injured in an accident involving a school bus and parked cars on Flat Bush in South Auckland.

Three other people were also injured.

Police were alerted to the crash, on Chapel Rd between Michael Jones Drive and Fusion Rd, around 3.50 pm on Wednesday.

Jennifer Columbus had just parked her car when she saw the bus rush toward her.

“I had parked behind a black car and turned off my car when I heard this crash and suddenly this bus was running towards me. He kept picking up speed and wouldn’t stop.

“I raised my knees and waited for the impact. I thought I was going to die.”

Columbus said that fortunately the black car in front of him took the brunt of the impact.

“I’m definitely going to have a bad cold tonight!” she said.

Rodney Burger, who lives in an apartment near the crash site, said it was a “miracle” that no one died.

“I heard this horrendous sound, like a really loud explosion, while I was at my house. I came down to help and saw about 30 or 40 children exiting the bus after the accident. “

Burger got on the bus to see the driver and said it looked like he had suffered some kind of medical event.

“It was pretty out of line and it wasn’t very consistent.”

For the next 20 minutes, Burger held Columbus’s hand as he was in shock after the accident.

She said she was very lucky not to have been injured.

A police spokesperson said the road was closed after the accident, but reopened shortly after 7:30 p.m.

A spokeswoman for St John said one person in critical condition was taken to Middlemore Hospital, another with moderate injuries was treated at the scene and two patients in mild condition were evaluated at the scene.

Auckland Transport said travelers should avoid the area or allow more travel time, as the major accident unit investigated.