A 12-year-old boy was rushed to hospital today with severe facial injuries after two school buses collided.
Around 50 children and two adults were involved in the morning rush hour crash when the coaches hit head on.
Emergency services were forced to cut a driver from the seat of his vehicle, while it is believed the other was airlifted to hospital.
Police were immediately on scene at Stanley, Co. Durham, and two children were taken to Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary, while others were treated for shock.
The buses, a yellow double decker headed to St Bede’s school, in Lanchester, Co. Durham, and a white single decker going to Tanfield School Comprehensive, collided around 8.20 am yesterday.
The children, aged between 11 and 18, were taken to the nearby Oxhill pub where they were met by teachers from their respective schools.
Thirteen ambulances were sent to the scene of the accident at the junction of Shield Row Lane and the A693.
Superintendent Colin Williamson said “We are currently working closely with other agencies to respond to this incident.
“The safety of those injured in the collision is our primary concern along with supporting their families.
“There will be some disruption on the roads in this area for some time and I would ask the local community to be patient while we deal with this incident.”
On its Twitter page,the Great North Air Ambulance said: This morning we were called to Stanley after reports of a two bus collision.
“We airlifted a 12-year-old child to the RVI in four minutes.
“The 12-year-old boy airlifted from Oxhill, near Stanley, this morning had suffered serious facial injuries but was stable on arrival at hospital.”
