On Tuesday afternoon, a bus carrying approximately 40 students from St Paul’s High School left the road and flipped onto its side near Belleeks. The incident triggered a large-scale emergency response, with medical teams treating the crash as a "significant incident." Despite the vehicle ending up in a ditch, all passengers were accounted for. While the event caused great concern for families and the local community, reports confirm that the students avoided life-threatening harm. Most children were able to exit the vehicle and return home shortly after being checked by paramedics.
Incident Timeline and Location
The event took place on Tullyah Road, a route situated between Newtownhamilton and Camlough in South Armagh.
15:38 GMT: The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) received the first emergency call reporting a bus crash.
15:45 GMT: Emergency crews, including police and fire services, arrived at the scene on Tullyah Road.
Evening: Local representatives confirmed that students were making their way home from school toward the Whitecross area when the crash occurred.
Recovery: The road remained closed for several hours while investigators examined the site and recovery teams worked to move the overturned bus. It has since been reopened to traffic.
Evidence and Field Data
The following data represents the scale of the emergency response and the known status of those on board:
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Passengers | Approximately 40 pupils from St Paul’s High School |
| Medical Resources | 5 ambulances, 2 advanced paramedics, 1 officer, 1 doctor |
| Vehicle Status | Private hire bus; rested on its side in a roadside ditch |
| Injury Report | Minor injuries reported; no "serious" or life-threatening cases |
| Reporting Authority | PSNI, NIAS, and Northern Ireland Fire Service |
"The call was received at 15:38 and NIAS despatched multiple resources… Currently, five ambulances, two advanced paramedics, one officer and an ambulance doctor are at the scene treating patients." — Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Official Statement
The core outcome of the incident is that 40 children escaped a vehicle overturn without critical injuries, despite the bus landing on its side in a ditch.
Read More: Nigeria mine accident: 30+ miners die from suspected gas leak in Plateau State on February 18
Emergency Response and Site Management
The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service labeled the crash a "significant incident" upon arrival. This label is used when the number of potential patients requires a high level of coordination and extra resources.
Medical Assessment: Paramedics focused on checking every child for internal injuries or signs of head trauma. While some students were treated for minor cuts or bruising, the majority were cleared to leave the site.
Extraction: Reports indicate that some children had to exit the vehicle through windows or the emergency door due to the bus being on its side.
Police Coordination: The PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland) immediately closed the Tullyah Road to allow medical and fire crews to work without the interference of passing traffic.
Student Welfare and School Response
The impact on the students was described as more emotional than physical. Dáithí Murray, the principal of St Paul’s High School, noted that while the students were physically safe, they experienced "significant shock."
Parental Notification: The school worked to ensure all parents were informed of their children's safety.
MLA Observations: Justin McNulty, a local politician, arrived at the scene and noted the "relief" felt by responders. He stated that the children walked away "relatively unscathed," suggesting that the outcome could have been far worse given the position of the vehicle.
Investigation into Vehicle and Road Factors
While the cause of the crash is currently unknown, investigators are looking at several factors.
The Road Condition: Tullyah Road is described as a country road off the main Newry to Newtownhamilton route. Investigators will likely check if the narrowness of the road or the surface condition played a part.
The Vehicle: The bus was a private hire vehicle rather than a standard Education Authority (EA) bus. Mechanical checks will be required to see if a vehicle failure occurred.
The Maneuver: How did the vehicle lose its balance and tip into the ditch? This question remains the focus of the police inquiry. There are no current reports of other vehicles being involved in the collision.
Expert Analysis
Justin McNulty, Newry & Armagh MLA:"A school bus transporting children from St Paul's High School to Whitecross crashed on the Tullyagh Road. It could have been much more serious, but thankfully… the children have walked away unscathed."
Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS):The NIAS emphasized that their response was a precaution based on the number of children involved. By sending an ambulance doctor and advanced paramedics, they ensured that any hidden injuries were identified quickly.
Read More: Northern Ireland Stops Puberty Blocker Trial After Legal Action
Investigative Insight:The fact that the bus was on its side suggests a loss of stability. In such cases, investigators look for "soft verges" (weak ground at the edge of the road) or sudden steering changes. The lack of serious injuries suggests the vehicle may have tipped at a lower speed, allowing the interior structure to protect the passengers.
Conclusion
The crash on Tullyah Road was a major event that could have resulted in a high number of casualties. The evidence shows that approximately 40 students from St Paul’s High School were on board when the bus overturned into a ditch. Emergency services reacted with a high level of caution, sending five ambulances and a medical doctor to the scene.
The final findings show that all students are safe, with only minor injuries reported. The road has been cleared and reopened. Moving forward, the PSNI will likely conduct a standard mechanical inspection of the bus and review the driver’s account to understand why the vehicle left the roadway.
Read More: Three Young People Die in Separate Road Accidents in Paderu and Rajkot
Sources
Mirror: School bus carrying 40 kids flips over in serious crash
Belfast Live: Co Armagh principal issues statement after pupils involved in serious school bus crash
BBC News: Road closed due to 'significant incident' involving school bus
Metro: School bus carrying 40 children veers off-road and crashes
RTE News: Schoolchildren escape serious injury in Armagh bus crash
Extra.ie: School bus carrying 40 pupils involved in serious collision
Armagh I: Road remains closed after school bus crash as MLA speaks of ‘relief’
)
