Answers urged over school bus crash
Parents have demanded answers after six children were taken to hospital and 13 others were treated for minor injuries after a bus with school pupils on board overturned into a field.
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The double-decker bus, which had around 34 pupils on board, toppled over at 3.52pm on Thursday in Aberdeenshire. It had been travelling along the A92 Gavrock Road near Laurencekirk.
One child was taken to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee and five children were taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, police said. The pupils were boys and girls aged between 12 and 17.All of the injuries are believed to be minor but the youngsters were taken to hospital as a precaution.
On Thursday Aberdeenshire Council said concerns had been raised by parents about the use of double-decker buses on the route.
Bill Howatson, who is a Scottish Liberal Democrat councillor at Aberdeenshire Council for Mearns, said: "I'm appalled that it has happened. I was at the accident scene shortly after it happened after a constituent telephoned me. It was heavy rain, very low mist, driving rain. Rescue services were already there, they had responded very quickly. The bus was lying in a field.
"My daughter travels on that bus regularly but she wasn't on it today. I was acutely aware of parents' concerns about this route and I will be seeking urgent answers from council officials and the bus operators.
"I have very severe reservations about using a double-decker on that route. It is a very exposed stretch of road where the incident happened and parents have raised concerns about whether a double-decker is the most appropriate option."
Mr Howatson, who is 57 and is also the Provost of Aberdeenshire, said he had contacted council officials following the accident to highlight concerns again.
Inspector Ian Kirkwood from Grampian Police said: "This had the potential to be a serious incident, but thankfully all the emergency services have worked well together with the assistance of Mearns Academy and it would appear that none of the children have serious injuries as a result of this incident. We have a team of officers who will be investigating the incident, but at the moment it would appear that the weather has been a factor."
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