Overturned Bus Passengers Recovering

A double-decker bus overturned in Belfast on Sunday injuring around 30 people, including two children and a pregnant woman.

Cutting equipment was used to free the badly injured driver from the bus and the passengers were taken to four hospitals in Belfast.

The PSNI said that the bus was travelling towards Belfast city centre and mounted the kerb just outside Central Station and collapsed on its side around 2.15pm.

Today, the NI Health Minister Edwin Poots offered his support to those injured in the bus crash.

He said: "I was shocked when I heard that so many people has been injured in what must have been a very frightening incident for everyone involved.

"I want to send my best wishes to those who were caught up in this incident. My first concern is that those affected receive the help they need to speed their recovery," said the DUP Minister.

"I would also like to thank the Ambulance Service and hospital staff across Belfast who moved swiftly to deal with this serious incident."

The Alliance East Belfast MLA Judith Cochrane has also expressed her concern after a bus overturned outside Belfast Central Railway station on Sunday afternoon.

"I was shocked at the scale of this crash and the consequences of just a single bus overturning in an accident.

"I would like to wish a speedy recovery to those who were injured in this crash."

Nine people were taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital, including the bus driver. Another 10 people attended the City Hospital, while eight were taken to the Mater Hospital.

Two children were transported to the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children and a pregnant woman was brought to the maternity unit at the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald.

Most of the injured passengers were treated for cuts, bruises and sprains, and - despite the extent of the accident - no one has been seriously injured although the driver had to be cut free from the wreckage.

Ciaran Rogan from Translink, said the driver was recovering well too and while he remained in hospital overnight, "is much improved on the first reports yesterday".

"He is obviously very traumatised and shocked, but in terms of physical injuries, it is not as bad as had initially been thought.

"His medical condition is the first priority and after that there will be a medical investigation as to what happened to him immediately before the incident," said Mr Rogan.

The Stormont Roads Minister Danny Kennedy said it is too early to speculate on the cause of the crash: "I have been to the scene and can only imagine how distressing it must be for all of those who have been involved," the Minister said.

"It is too early to speculate on the cause of the incident, however a police investigation is underway and I am being regularly updated by Translink who will be undertaking their own comprehensive internal investigation.

"Roads Service was on site and is liaising with the PSNI," he concluded.

(BMcC/GK)