The driver is thought to have not taken the approved route
The roof was ripped off as the bus hit the bridge (Image: John Myers)
Investigations into a school bus crash are ongoing after three children were injured when a bus collided with a railway bridge. The double-decker bus carrying schoolchildren from Ysgol Gyfun Gwent Is Coed and St Julian’s School crashed on Tregare Street, Newport on Tuesday, October 20.
The Newport Bus vehicle diverted on its way to St Julian’s School as emergency works by Welsh Water were taking place along the original bus route on Caerleon Road on Tuesday morning. However, Newport council has confirmed that the school bus did travel along the diversion plan set out.
Pictures from the scene show the roof of the bus sheered off the vehicle as it tried to go under the bridge, which has a sign showing the maximum height of 3.8m. A typical double decker bus in the UK has a height of between 4m and 4.4m, although the exact height varies depending on the make and model of the bus.
One mum who spoke to WalesOnline said that her 13-year-old injured in the crash. The mum, Jo Townsend, said her son Gruff had a nasty bump on the head and was treated in hospital.
Diversion routes shared by the council’s traffic management team ensure that the closed road and diversion routes are the same classification for vehicles. Never miss a Newport story by subscribing to our newsletter here
With Caerleon Road being closed on Tuesday morning, drivers were asked to follow the diverted route over Newport Bridge onto the A4042.
East Usk Road, where the collision occurred was not on the diversion plan and is not on the bus route.
Newport City Council are conducting an investigation into the incident.
Newport Bus are also conducting their own investigation but declined to comment. It did not answer when asked if the driver had been suspended while the investigation was carried out.
Gwent Police has confirmed that no arrests were made in connection with the collision.
At the time, the force said: “Officers attended along with crews from South Wales Fire and Rescue Service and the Welsh Ambulance Service and the collision involved a school bus and a railway bridge.
“Three children have sustained injuries and will be attending hospital for treatment; their injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.”
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