Children 'screaming' in horror as school bus, double-decker collide

Charlie Chun

A 65-year-old school bus driver has been arrested for dangerous driving after his vehicle carrying 19 kids from an international school collided with a double-decker.

A total of 34 people were injured - including all 19 schoolchildren - in the accident yesterday on northern Lantau Island. Two remain in hospital with serious injuries.

The crash occurred at 8am on Cheung Tung Road near the Discovery Bay tunnel toll plaza when the school bus - filled with ESF Discovery College pupils - allegedly swerved into the opposite lane and collided into a bus heading from Discovery Bay to Sunny Bay.

The school bus crashed into trees, with its front driver's side seriously damaged and the windscreen of bus DB03 shattered. Nine firetrucks and 21 ambulances, with 81 firemen and ambulance men, arrived seven minutes later.

A pupil said: "The school bus was driving in the middle of the road and another car suddenly drove toward us. The school bus driver made a turn and then it crashed."

Another said everyone was screaming on the school bus and there was "blood everywhere, even though all the students were wearing their seat belts."

A passenger on the upper deck of the bus said he felt a huge force during the crash.

Police superintendent Jackey Tsue Chun-tung said: "Both vehicles were on the same lane during the incident. One of them deviated from its original lane.

"We believe the school bus deviated from the lane toward Discovery Bay, causing the incident."

The trapped school bus driver and two of the schoolboys were in serious condition as they were rushed to Princess Margaret Hospital for treatment.

Police later arrested the school bus driver, who has 20 years of driving experience.

Of the injured, three people were in fair condition and 28 were slightly injured. They were treated on site before being sent to North Lantau, Princess Margaret, Tuen Mun and Yan Chai hospitals.

The 25-year-old bus driver, who has two years of driving experience, remained conscious when rescued.

ESF said staff from Discovery College and from ESF went to the site and offered support.

The road was closed for one-and-a-half hours.

charlie.chun@singtaonewscorp.com