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The bus driver who was killed in a collision with a train cared deeply for the students she drove to school every day.
She had been part of the Uzabus team for four years and was familiar with both the route and the children on board, said company director Justin Allan.
“She loved those children very much.”
The bus he was driving collided with the side of a moving train at the intersection of Railway Rd and Clevely Line, near Bunnythorpe, 12 kilometers from Palmerston North, shortly after 8 a.m. Wednesday.
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Warwick Smith / Stuff
Ngāti Kauwhata kaumātua Kevin Emery leads a group blessing at the crash site Wednesday night.
The impact threw the driver from the vehicle. He died before paramedics arrived, while 40 passengers, many of them Feilding High School students, had to be helped out of the windows.
Seven passengers were taken to Palmerston North Hospital with minor injuries. One remained in the hospital overnight for observation and was discharged Thursday morning.
Allan attended a blessing at the crash site Wednesday night and was comforted by the words of the bus driver’s husband.
It was an “absolute blessing” that the children were safe because their protection had always been paramount to her.
Uzabus would carry out an investigation that analyzed all aspects of the accident: the driver, the route, the vehicle, and the training protocols.
Allan said the best outcome would be to minimize the risk and make sure it doesn’t happen again.
Warwick Smith / Stuff
The bus collided with the rear of the train despite the lights and bells at the railroad crossing.
He had been in contact with Feilding High School and the students were understandably shocked.
“It may take a little time for them to regain that confidence.”
He said the support from first responders, including the police, St John, Fire and Emergency, KiwiRail and the local iwi, had been fantastic.
Feilding High School principal Nathan Stewart said some students had returned to school on Thursday, while others were still at home and were not expected to return this week.
I was happy to give the children as much time as they wanted before returning. Supporting their needs was of the utmost importance.
“Families know their children better. For some of these families, being with mom or dad or whānau is the best place for them. “
The school has a great pastoral support team and guidance counselors available to assist students if needed.
Warwick Smith / Stuff
Emergency services were at the scene of an accident between a school bus and a train on Railway Rd near Bunnythorpe on Wednesday.
Stewart said the school would host a meeting on Friday for parents of students on the bus to provide information and offer support.
The ministries of health and education had also offered their support and guidance.
“We have district health nurses on site. [On Friday] there will be more specialized advisers. “
He said the school had been inundated with offers of help and compassion.
“The amount of support that has been offered has been phenomenal.”
The school was alerted to the accident Wednesday morning by a member of the public. Stewart, senior staff, and counselors left immediately to help the children at the crash site.
He said he had feared the worst, but was relieved that none of the children were seriously injured.
People who lived near the crash site offered blankets to those involved in the accident and the seniors were supporting the younger ones.
Request for witnesses to assist in accident investigation
The Transportation Accident Investigation Commission has opened an investigation into the cause and circumstances of the accident.
Acting Chief Accident Investigator Naveen Kozhuppakalam said people may have seen what happened given the location of the accident on a major highway at a relatively busy time of day.
“TAIC is attractive to any witness, especially anyone who captured the accident on their vehicle’s dash cam.”
Kozhuppakalam has appointed two investigators who have expert knowledge in train operations, engineering and maintenance.
“Your initial job will include inspecting the locomotive and bus, mapping the site, examining the rail systems like signals, examining the vehicle components, looking for any recorded data from the vehicle electronics and obtaining maintenance records.
“They will also interview the train conductor, the rest of the staff and any witnesses to the accident.”
Witnesses can be contacted via email [email protected].
