New Zealand

Serious injuries after South Island school bus crash

18:07 pm on 8 March 2021

Several helicopters have airlifted to hospital people injured in a school bus crash near Murchison this afternoon.

Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

Five people were injured when a bus went into a ditch shortly after 4pm.

The crash happened on the Shenandoah Highway (State Highway 65) near Maruia Saddle Road.

Emergency services said three people had serious injuries and two have moderate injuries.

Murchison Area School principal, Andy Ashworth, said the bus had been taking children home.

He said he was still trying to get information about what happened as the area where the crash happened has no cell coverage.