Seven children have been rushed to hospital after two school buses collided
- Collision between two buses in Blue Mountains
- Seven students and bus driver taken to hospital
- The Great Western Highway is closed in both directions
Seven children have been rushed to hospital after two school buses carrying dozens of students collided in the Blue Mountains.
A 15-passenger bus and a second 10-passenger bus collided on Great Western Highway near Sun Valley Rd in Warrimoo west of Sydney at around 4.15pm Friday.
Eleven students and two adults were treated at the scene by paramedics.
Two children were rushed to Westmead Children’s Hospital with minor injuries.
The Great Western Highway was closed in both directions after a collision between two buses
Another five children with minor injuries were taken to Nepean Hospital, along with a male bus driver who suffered a fractured shoulder.
The children’s injuries mainly consist of bruises and head bumps.
It is clear that passengers were thrown forward by the impact of the collision.
The fire brigade was also called to the scene.
Stills and footage from the scene show the shattered windshields of the buses involved and passengers being treated by paramedics at the roadside.
The police have launched an investigation into the circumstances of the accident.
Environmental activist Jon Dee was on a train when it passed the scene of the accident.
“Hope the injured children are doing well – their families must be traumatized,” he tweeted.
“Traffic is completely blocked – in the 20 years I’ve lived in the Blue Mountains, this is the biggest traffic jam I’ve ever seen.”
The windshield of one of the buses suffered major damage in the accident
NSW Premier Chris Minns also tweeted about the crash urging motorists to avoid the area.
The Great Western Highway was closed in both directions with local diversions.
Motorists were asked to avoid the area and to allow extra travel time.
Westbound lanes on the highway reopened nearly two hours later at around 6 p.m.
Eastbound lanes remain closed due to the bus crash on Sun Valley Rd. Continue to avoid the area as traffic remains very busy,” read a Live Traffic NSW alert.
“Heavy vehicles should delay travel or use Bells Line of Rd instead.”
Eleven students were treated at the scene (pictured) and seven were taken to hospital