Three St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic High School students fell from bus on Bolton Road, Makerfield Wigan as an air ambulance and emergency crews responded to incident
A headteacher has released a statement following an incident where three secondary school students fell from an upper-floor window of a double decker bus. The boys were taken to hospital with ‘potentially serious injuries’ after the incident in Ashton-in-Makerfield, Wigan yesterday afternoon.
Officers launched an investigation whilst emergency services, including an air ambulance, were summoned to the scene on Bolton Road shortly before 4pm. Images of the 950 service bus appear to show a side window on the upper deck missing.
The boys were students at nearby St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic High School. In a letter to parents today, which has been shared with the M.E. N. headteacher Mark Dumican wrote there were ‘no life-threatening injuries’ and that the boys were being ‘assessed in hospital’, reports the Manchester Evening News.
He said: “You may have seen reports in the media and social media about an incident where three boys fell through a window on the top deck of a bus on the way home from school on Bolton Road yesterday. The pupils attend our school, and we are in contact with the families to offer our support.
“We are also offering support to those pupils in school today who witnessed the incident and would like the opportunity to speak about it. Contrary to some reports, there are no life-threatening injuries, and all three boys have been assessed in hospital.
“We are working with the police and with Vision Bus Company to determine the circumstances that led to this incident. Could all parents please reinforce our message in school that pupils must sit in a seat for their journey if they choose to use the top deck of a bus.
“Thank you for your continued support, which is always greatly appreciated.”
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said the fall ‘appeared to be linked to some disturbance on the upper deck’. He added: “It does sound like a serious incident.
“Our concern is with the young people and with their families. It was not a Bee Network branded service, I have to say.
“It would appear it was linked to some disturbance on the upper deck. I do not think there are any life-threatening injuries but there were some serious injuries.”
A spokesperson for Bolton-based Vision Bus said the company was ‘completing an investigation and helping the police with their inquiries’.
In a statement yesterday Greater Manchester Police said their investigations into the incident was in its ‘early stages’. TfGM said it would be working closely with the police and the bus operator to support inquiries.