Kids sob after tree branch hits bus
10ft branch smashed into school bus
Published:
TEENAGE pupils at Alford Academy were left sobbing after a tree branch smashed into their school bus.
The youngsters were showered with glass when the 10ft-long oak branch fell from a tree, shattering the windscreen and one of the side windows.
The 14 and 15 year olds, from Alford Academy, were travelling on the B993 Kemnay to Monymusk road when the accident happened at about 4.50pm yesterday.
Police, ambulance and fire crews attended the scene.
A 14-year-old boy was taken to hospital with leg injuries but his injuries were not thought to be life-threatening.
Three other pupils were treated at the scene by paramedics.
The driver of the bus, Donald MacDonald, 65, from Montgarrie, near Alford, managed to steer the Lumsden-based Shirran’s Coaches vehicle to a safe stop.
He said: “It was very tricky. I couldn’t afford to stop too quickly because there were people behind me, but we managed to stop safely.
“The youngsters were remarkable. They got a major fright but they did exactly what I asked them to do and all got off quickly.
“One or two were sobbing softly but they seemed okay.
Mr MacDonald, who suffered only a small cut to his face, was heading out to drive buses again today. Grampian Police said the road remained blocked until 7.35pm while Aberdeenshire Council roads department staff dealt with the tree, which had become unsafe.
In another accident, a car ended up on its roof after a crash on one of the North-east’s busiest roads.
Two cars were involved in the accident at 2.50pm yesterday on the A90 Aberdeen to Dundee road, between Muchalls and Stonehaven.
Police and ambulance crews both attended but no one was injured.
