Illawarra Christian School bus crash: shock as classmates airlifted to hospital after Albion Park accident

Tongarra Road has reopened in both directions.

9.10pm:

A spokesperson for the Sydney Children’s Hospital has advised the seven-year-old boy remains in hospital in a stable condition, while the 10-year-old boy is in a serious but stable condition.

8.30pm:

Two young Illawarra Christian School students were airlifted to hospital after two school buses collided “at high speed” on Tuesday afternoon.

Read Kate McIlwain’s full report of the crash here.

7.55pm: 

Tongarra Road between Croome Road and Illawarra Highway at Terry Street remains closed in both directions.

7.50pm: 

Some of the reactions from readers on the Mercury’s Facebook page.

Aggy Graham Let's boycott bus excursions for our kids until seat belts are fitted whether it's law or not to have them. This is not good enough for our beautiful innocent children. #noseatbeltnoride the bus company's make a fortune transporting our kids, it's time they put safety first!

Fran Gamble Something every parent dreads when they put their children on the bus ... Especially if there are not enough seats ... Prayers for all involved  [❤]

Jo-Anne Payne When are the government gonna step.up and make seat belts on buses compulsory? This couldve been prevented by a seatbelt

Courtney Whelpton I hope everyone is okay  [❤] My question though is why don't busses have seat belts, mini busses have them so why can't big busses have them?

Rodney Baldwin Why is it 1000s and 1000s of kids travel in school busses every day without a seat belts yet we fine people for having unrestrained animals ?????

Craig Middleton Hope the kids are ok but it seems no one is saying lets get the buses and cars off the road like everyone is saying about getting trucks off the road over the mount ousley crash.​

Brooke McLean Can we get seat belts on buses NOW please? Speedy recovery for all involved  :(

7.30pm: 

A number of children and parents from Illawarra Christian School looked on in shock as one of their classmates was airlifted to hospital, after a two-bus crash closed down Tongarra Road on Tuesday afternoon.

Year 9 student Riley Cunningham, who was travelling in the back bus, said the bus in front appeared to “stop out of nowhere”.

“We couldn’t slow down fast enough and we just rear ended him,” Riley said.

“Everyone started freaking out crying, someone got a throat injury and couldn’t breathe. 

“I thought I was fine, but then I looked down and there was blood coming out of my mouth because I hit the seat in front.”

“Everyone was scared – we just had to sit and be quiet to see is everyone was fine, and some people had shock blankets.”

7.15pm: 

Mother Katrina Hayward, whose son Jack was in the crash and escaped with a minor shoulder injury, said the response of teachers and students was “a testament to the school”.

“My son called me and said ‘we’ve been in a crash, I’m alright but my shoulder’s a bit sore’,” she said. “But then I’d heard they blocked the road, so I knew it was more serious.

“Seeing the chopper come in is very distressing, to think that someone is that badly injured. But knowing the older kids were there looking out for the little ones just shows how much the school has taught them.”

5:40pm:

Ambulance NSW Illawarra duty operations manager Inspector Norm Rees has confirmed two young students from The Illawarra Christian School have been airlifted to Sydney’s Children Hospital with serious injuries.

A seven-year-old boy (earlier thought to be aged nine) was thrown through a window and onto the road resulting in head injuries, when one bus “rear ended another bus at high speed”.

A 10-year-old boy was “thrown about” inside one of the buses and sustained abdomen and leg injuries.

Another four children and one adult were taken by road ambulance to Shellharbour Hospital.

5:40pm:

Ambulance NSW Illawarra duty operations manager Inspector Norm Rees has confirmed two young students from The Illawarra Christian School have been airlifted to Sydney’s Children Hospital with serious injuries.

A seven-year-old boy (earlier thought to be aged nine) was thrown through a window and onto the road resulting in head injuries, when one bus “rear ended another bus at high speed”.

A 10-year-old boy was “thrown about” inside one of the buses and sustained abdomen and leg injuries.

Another four children and one adult were taken by road ambulance to Shellharbour Hospital.

5:30pm:

Two children have been take to hospital via helicopter and another four and one adult by road ambulance.

Emergency services are now mostly clearing the scene.

Crash investigators are on the way from Sydney to assess the scene, with Tongarra Road expected to be closed for at least another hour.

Motorists should avoid the area.

5:15pm:

Police have confirmed the drivers of two school buses will be subject to mandatory blood and urine testing after they collided on Tuesday, injuring dozens of children from The Illawarra Christian School.

A nine-year-old boy was airlifted to Wollongong Hospital.

Five other children were also taken to hospital with various injuries including bruising and fractures, while around 15 “walking wounded” were treated at the scene by paramedics for minor injuries.

The buses were carrying about 40 students of varying ages from the private school at the time.

4:50pm:

RMS has advised Tongarra Road is closed in both directions at Croome Street due to a crash between two school buses and three cares.

Routes 76 and 77 are diverting away from Tongarra Road via Terry Street and Croome Road in Albion Park.

4:40pm:

The Illawarra Christian School has released a statement on their website following the school bus crash:

A Premier Illawarra  bus accident occurred at 3.40pm today. The Shell Cove/ Flinders bus 172 and Warilla bus 188 will be delayed.

Children on these routes will be late in arriving home. A staff member will accompany children on the route home. Concerned parents are welcome to contact the school office.

Meantime a staff member confirmed the Tongarra campus principal, Kate Bertram, is on scene at the accident.

4:25pm:

A nine-year-old boy is being airlifted to hospital with serious head injuries after being “ejected” from a school bus during a crash at Tongarra Road, Albion Park.

Ambulance NSW Illawarra duty operations manager Inspector Norm Rees says four others have injuries which “need to be treated” while there are 15 “walking wounded” with minor injuries to be treated at the scene.

A rescue helicopter is preparing to land on scene.

4:15pm:

Dozens of children have been hurt in a multi-vehicle accident involving two school buses on Tongarra Road at Albion Park on Tuesday.

A police spokeswoman said the buses, carrying students of varying ages from the Illawarra Christian School, collided around 3:40pm. Another three cars were also involved.

Concerned parents are advised to check the school’s Facebook page which is being updated regularly.

4:00pm:

At least 21 people, including children, have been injured in a crash involving two buses and three cars at Albion Park on Tuesday afternoon.

Emergency services were called to Tongarra Road near Terry Street about 3.45pm.

The Mercury understands one person has been seriously injured, while around 20 people are being treated for minor injuries.

A rescue helicopter is on its way to the scene.

Motorists are advised to exercise caution.