Wheels come off packed schoolbus

Australian police have praised a bus driver who managed to keep a bus carrying 80 school children on the road after its back wheels came off in the New South Wales Hunter region.

The driver had just picked up 80 high school students at Raymond Terrace and was taking them home to Medowie, about 3.15pm on Monday, when the bus's two rear left wheels flew off as he took a sweeping left hand bend.

Police said one wheel flew left across oncoming traffic on Richardson Road at Medowie, while the other wheel rolled into a nearby dam.

The driver had the good sense to put the bus in low gear, keeping it on the road even as its rear axle dragged along the road, police said.

The bus eventually came to a stop in the middle of Richardson Road. The driver and all the school children were uninjured.

Acting Sergeant David Hanna said the bus driver's quick thinking averted disaster.

"I believe that the driver used great skill in keeping the bus from losing control. With 80 school children on board, I hate to think what could have happened," Acting Sergeant Hanna said.

Police reported the incident to the Roads and Traffic Authority's heavy vehicle inspectors.

- © Fairfax NZ News