College bus crashes into bridge
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A double decker bus carrying teenagers to sixth form college has crashed into the underside of a bridge, police said today.
The incident happened on Neasham Road, Darlington, County Durham, near the town's football ground just before 8.45am.
Up to 12 people including the driver were taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital but none were thought to be seriously injured.
Durham Police said all the pupils were safely removed from the bus, which was ferrying them to the Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College.
The bus "hit the underside of a railway bridge near the football ground and this caused the top of the bus to come off", a Durham Police spokeswoman said.
The bridge, which carries local services between Darlington and Neasham, was closed briefly to allow the damage to be assessed, but was reopened.
Pupils who were uninjured were taken to college on another bus.
Police said Neasham Road was expected to be closed for the rest of the morning.
College principal Tim Fisher said: "This has been a lucky escape.
"I went down to the scene and, like everybody else, I was shocked, surprised and most of all relieved by the fact that all of the people travelling on the bus had walked away from the accident.
"Some of them have subsequently been taken to hospital with what have been described to me as minor injuries, but the vast majority walked away shaken but absolutely uninjured."
The bus picks up around 50 pupils from villages to the east of Darlington and was around a mile away from the college when it hit the bridge.
The principal said: "The bus doesn't normally travel on that road and part of the investigation will be why the bus took that route.
"We have spoken to the emergency services and the investigation is in the police's hands.
"We are interested to find out why this happened and to ensure it does not happen again."
Local people living near the crash scene came out of their homes to help, Mr Fisher said.
"I understand they were magnificent. The college really appreciates the assistance given by so many people immediately, doing whatever they could."
PA
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments