Bus slips off Saddle Rd into ditch

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CLOSE CALL: A bus carrying 39 passengers was left teetering on a dangerous angle after it manoeuvred to the side to let a wide-load vehicle past. No-one was injured.

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An emergency services callout was sparked after a bus carrying 39 passengers slid off Saddle Rd and came close to toppling on its side.

Inspector Ken Climo, of police central communications, said the call came in at 5.42pm yesterday that an InterCity coach had come off the road between Ashhurst and Woodville.

"The caller said a bus had crashed and there were 39 people on board, so picture that if you will. We got every police member we could out there, as well as fire and ambulances. Thankfully, it turned out to be a big non-event". Mr Climo said the incident occurred when the driver moved the bus to the left to let a wide-load vehicle past.

"What's happened then is they've either slipped further down into the ditch, or part of the road has subsided beneath them." The bus was left perched precariously on the side of the road with its only exit door facing downward into the ditch.

Mr Climo said the bus driver made the decision to keep all passengers on board inside the bus until police arrived, because it was in danger of tipping on its side and trapping them. The bus was eventually fastened to a fire truck, which held it steady while the passengers got off the bus safely.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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david wan   #1   03:47 pm Jan 13 2012

now i wouder if they are going to something about these roads after the bus little crash. tansit new zealand are just a joke

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