Two adults and 24 children have been taken to hospital following a road crash involving a bus and a car in County Limerick this morning.
Emergency services were alerted shortly before 9 o’clock this morning following the collision on the R513 between Caherconlish and Herbertstown.
It’s understood the School bus was carrying 46 students to John the Baptist Community school in Hospital at the time.
Students at the school will be offered counselling to help cope with the traumatic incident.
Traffic Alert Limerick – Diversions are currently in place on the R513 between Caherconlish & Herbertstown due to a collision. Gardaí & Emergency Services are at the scene.
— An Garda Síochána (@GardaTraffic) February 7, 2018
University Hospital Limerick has formed an incident group in response to the incident.
At 9.30 this morning, the resuscitation and paediatric areas of the Emergency Department was cleared in anticipation of casualties.
26 casualties, including 24 minors and two adults, were brought to the Dooradoyle facility, 7 of those were being transported by emergency ambulances and those with less severe injuries by intermediate care vehicles and a minibus.
Additional surgical teams and nursing staff, including paediatric and trauma nurses, have been assigned to the ED in anticipation of trauma-type injuries.
The UL Hospitals Group says accelerated discharging of patients is underway for adult and paediatric patients medically fit for discharge.
The Caterpillar Day Ward in the Children’s Ark has been designated to receive medical paediatric patients who have been assessed in the ED., while staff are currently contacting parents of children to reschedule appointments in Day Ward.
While the incident is ongoing, members of the public are urged not to attend the Emergency Department unless absolutely necessary and to visit their GP in the first instance or the Injury Units in Ennis, St John’s and Nenagh hospitals for appropriate injuries.
The Injury Unit is open in Ennis from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Sunday and 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday at St. John’s Hospital.
While others, with a less serious illness are being advised they can be treated by their GP or out of hours GP service where their GP can refer them to an Assessment Unit the following day if required.
However, the hospital says that anyone who is seriously injured or ill or are worried your life is at risk, will be assessed in the ED and treated as a priority.
Bus Éireann Statement on school bus accident in Limerick – https://t.co/Xoa2hTORcy
— Bus Eireann (@Buseireann) February 7, 2018
Bus Éireann says it’s currently assisting the relevant authorities with their investigations into the incident.
In a statement, the company says “Our investigation is ongoing and we cannot comment further at this time.
We would like to express our gratitude to all the emergency services for their rapid response, and we will continue to liaise with the school and parents of the injured students”.
