A schoolbus driver was told to slow down before his vehicle hit a low bridge, injuring several children.
Twenty-four pupils from Woolston School and a number of adults were on their way to a cross-country event when the bus hit the the bridge on Richardson Tce, Christchurch about 9.15am.
The bus, which was about 2.9m high, tried to clear the 2.4m bridge, said police. The front windscreen and one side window popped out on impact, police said.
Sergeant Richard Ryan said seven children aged 9-12 were taken to hospital with minor injuries, such as cuts and bruises from hitting seats in front of them.
"It was more of a shock for the kids as opposed to anything else. A few that came off [the bus] were quite visibly upset.''
The children who were not taken to hospital went back to school and would receive some sort of counselling, said Sergeant Ryan.
Local Amy Stoop said there was a huge noise when the top of the bus hit the bridge a few houses down from her home.
She said a neighbour was sweeping up glass from a minor crash earlier in the morning when the bus came along the street.
"She told him to slow down because she knew that he wouldn't fit. But he didn't slow down, he just kept going, and the noise was huge.''
When Ms Stoop went outside to see what happened she found glass and plastic all over the road.
"There was a bit of a mess, glass everywhere. Kids were just crying, a bit dazed and confused. I just felt so sorry for the bus driver, but silly guy.''
Ms Stoop said her neighbour who tried to warn the driver thought he was going too fast considering the bridge he was approaching, the size of the bus and the age of his passengers.
"He should've stopped and then analysed the bridge before he attempted to go through it, but he just went straight on.''
She was surprised a bus would try to drive under the bridge, which had caused problems for other vehicles.
"Mr Whippy lost his icecream, we've had people lose bikes, so it's a deceiving kind of a bridge,'' she said.
"There isn't really much signage until you get there.''
Sergeant Ryan said police had spoken to the driver, who would be formally interviewed as part of an investigation but it was too early to say what action may be taken.
"He explained he hasn't driven this route before.''
- Alex Mason of the Christchurch Star
