A bus driver is dead and 40 people have escaped the vehicle, some with moderate injuries, after it collided with a train at an intersection between Bunnythorpe and Palmerston North.
The crash happened at the intersection of Railway Rd and Clevely Line, about 2 kilometres from Bunnythorpe, just after 8am on Wednesday.
Police Senior Sergeant Phil Ward said the bus driver, a female, died at the scene of the crash. The 45-seat 2009 MCV Evolution bus with MAN 14.240 chassis, operated by Uzabus (fleet number 532), was heading to Feilding High School and tried to cross the train tracks before the train had completely cleared the road.
The bus collided with the back of the train despite lights and bells on the railway crossing.
Ward said sun strike could have been a factor.
"We acknowledge this was an extremely distressing incident for all those involved, including the students and their families and the family and friends of the deceased. Ongoing support will be provided," the police said in a statement. "Worksafe has been advised."
The circumstances of the crash are not yet fully known and an investigation is ongoing.
A triage system was set up for the schoolchildren and civilians on board, and teachers and counsellors from the high school attended to help.
He said the situation was traumatic and scary for children to be involved in, but they were all calm, level-headed and caring for each other.
Seven people were taken to Palmerston North Hospital with "minor cuts and abrasions", five have since been discharged.
Two patients remain in wards, both in stable conditions, a hospital spokesperson said.
The police were asking witnesses to come forward, while officers worked to determine what happened.
Feilding High School principal Nathan Stewart said there were about 25 students from the school on the bus.
"It was a public bus travelling from Palmerston North to Feilding. They're going to be OK."
He said five students had been taken to hospital. The other 20 students had been picked up by their parents and had gone home to spend time with their families.
"It's hugely unfortunate for the bus driver and our thoughts are with [their] family, but we believe everyone else is safe and is going to be all right."
He said support for students at the hospital had been fantastic.
St John Manawatū territory manager Jeff Mabbett said the six injured people were taken to the Palmerston North Hospital emergency department.
"Buses versus any vehicle usually causes catastrophic injuries so to only have six patients transported to hospital is good."
He said there was extreme damage to the front of the bus, but luckily most of the children were able to get out of the bus by themselves and safely.
"We know it's predominantly high school students and the biggest thing we experience is parents rushing to the scene to check if it's their children."
Children were wrapped in blankets after being pulled out of a window and many were collected by parents.
Fire and Emergency spokesman Carlos Dempsey said one person had been temporarily trapped in the bus.
MidCentral District Health Board acute and elective specialist services operations executive Lyn Horgan said as soon as they were alerted to the crash, her teams ensured there was space in the hospital emergency department and theatres for any incoming patients.
They also provided a space for any concerned loved ones to gather, she said.
"We understand that events like this can be extremely distressing for whānau and friends, so we also offered pastoral support for those who wanted it."
KiwiRail Group chief executive Greg Miller said he was shocked and saddened to learn of the crash.
"KiwiRail is deeply saddened to learn of the death of the bus driver. I send my thoughts, and those of all our KiwiRail staff, to the whānau and all those affected.
"We are supporting our train driver, who is shaken but physically unharmed."
He said the driver was the only person on board the train, which was travelling from Palmerston North to Whanganui to collect log wagons.
The train received minor damage and the driver said he had sounded his horn before the collision.
"In the last 15 years there have been no collisions at this crossing between trains and either vehicles or pedestrians, although our records show one near miss when a car crossed in front of a train in January 2011."
Miller said there were no plans to install barrier arms. The speed for trains travelling through this area is 80km/h.
The line remains closed and will be reopened once we have clearance from other agencies and we have completed our safety checks, Miller said.
"KiwiRail will be offering support to the schools involved and the bus company."
On behalf of Horizons Regional Council, Horizons Regional Council transport manager Rhona Hewitt expressed sympathy to the family and colleagues of the bus driver.
"We are also thinking of the passengers who were on the service that runs between Palmerston North and Feilding which, given the time of the day, included school children."
She said bus services that travelled this route remained diverted, and Horizons was working closely with all agencies involved.
Stuff contacted bus company Uzabus and was told there was no-one available to comment on the crash, however in a statement published by the New Zealand Herald, Uzabus said they were assisting police with their investigation, as well as passengers on board.
"All of us here at Uzabus are deeply saddened by the loss of one of our colleagues who was involved in the accident this morning.
"Our team has been on site assisting the passengers and police [and] we are thankful the passengers on board at the time did not suffer any significant injuries.
"The company is now working with police with its investigation to determine the events that led up to the accident. Our thoughts and support go out to all the passengers and the families connected to today's tragedy."
Diversions for motorists were in place at Railway Rd and Dixon Line. The road reopened just after 11am.
Rail safety charitable trust TrackSafe NZ foundation manager Megan Drayton was saddened to hear of the crash.
"This incident serves as an absolutely tragic reminder of just how serious the outcome can be when a heavy vehicle collides with a train. We hope that an incident like this never happens again."
Source: Manawatū Standard and The New Zealand Herald
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