50 taken to hospital after school bus and truck collide on Dublin by-pass

More than 50 people were taken to hospital yesterday after a lorry and a double-decker bus collided on the Clondalkin By-pass in Dublin. The accident occurred at 4.45 p.m. when an articulated lorry, travelling into the city, braked suddenly on a straight stretch of road.

The lorry cab struck the side of a double-decker coach, which was travelling in the opposite direction with 73 schoolboys on board.

The coach missed striking a lamp-post by inches and settled on an embankment.

The school bus, a private Bartons coach, had been returning to the Salesian College in Celbridge from a theatre performance of Juno and the Paycock in Inchicore.

A Garda traffic unit had been patrolling the area and was at the scene within minutes. The accident was so severe that gardai were on the verge of implementing their Dublin emergency plan, reserved for serious disasters such as the Stardust tragedy.

Six units of Dublin Fire Brigade and eight ambulances rushed to the scene. At least five of the pupils had to be cut free, having been trapped in the wreckage for over 20 minutes.

A total of 48 schoolboys, aged between 16 and 18, three teachers and the bus driver were taken to three hospitals, the James Connolly Memorial, St James's and the Meath. All but two suffered minor injuries. None of the injuries was life-threatening.

The driver of the lorry, who suffered serious injuries, was taken to the Meath Hospital and subsequently transferred to Beaumont Hospital.

The driver and passenger of a small van which crashed into the back of the coach were also taken to hospital. A number of other people, travelling in two cars which crashed behind the coach, were treated for superficial injuries.

Supt Len Ahern of Ballyfermot Garda station, who was in charge at the scene, said: "It was a miracle that no one was killed. Luckily enough, the bus didn't hit the lamp-post or topple over.

"Fortunately also, gardai were on traffic duties in the area and within seconds of the occurrence took charge of the scene. The ambulance and fire services were here within minutes and did a great job."

He added: "The kids were remarkably calm, having gone through such a horrific incident."

A number of eyewitnesses said the accident had been caused by two horses, ridden by young boys, crossing in front of the lorry.

However, Supt Ahern said it was too early to pinpoint a definite cause. "It is known that in the past we have had horses on the road, although we have no information at this point to suggest that horses were involved."

The accident caused long delays, with tailbacks of at least half a mile on both sides of the scene. A one-mile stretch of the by-pass was sealed off for over four hours.