Seven students and one teacher have now been discharged from hospital after yesterday’s school bus crash in Kilkenny.
Some 40 Transition Year students were travelling on the bus from Tipperary to Kilkenny when the crash happened shortly before 10am yesterday at Dinan Bridge, Ardloo.
Eight of the students and two teachers were taken to St Luke’s Hospital in Kilkenny with non-life-threatening injuries.
The driver of the truck, aged in his 40s, was airlifted to Tallaght Hospital with serious injuries.
The driver of the bus was brought to Midlands Hospital Tullamore.
Discharged
On Newstalk Breakfast, Kilkenny councillor Pat Fitzpatrick said most of the students have been discharged.
“Yesterday evening when I checked, I think there was one student and one teacher remaining in hospital, but with non-life-threatening injuries,” he said.
Cllr Fitzpatrick said the dangers of the road have been known for a long time.
“This is a very dangerous stretch of road, we’ve all known about it and we’ve all been raising the issue of the N77,” he said.
“It’s the gateway to the West coming out of Kilkenny, even from Rosslare, they come up through Kilkenny and go out the N77.
“It’s been raised by numerous politicians, the dangers of that section of road.”
Cllr Pat Fitzpatrick at the scene of the crash on Dinan Bridge. 14-12-23. Image: Eamon Farrell/RollingNewsCllr Fitzpatrick said the accident took place “at the mount” of Dinan Bridge.
“All of us have been calling, and I have only recently been calling, for increased safety measures at the bridge,” he said.
“Even if you look at it, for two vehicles to meet, two trucks to meet, it’s just not possible. So, it really needs to be looked at, crash barriers at either side and all that.”
Emergency services
Cllr Fitzpatrick thanked emergency services for a swift response.
“I’d like to compliment the emergency services, everything kicked in,” he said.
“We are so lucky there wasn’t a much more serious accident with that amount of kids on the bus, and the truck driver and bus driver.
“I’m wishing everyone a safe recovery.”
The N77 at Ardloo was closed for some time yesterday to allow the Garda Forensics Unit to complete an investigation before reopening at 5.30pm.
Main Image: Local Councillor Pat Fitzpatrick at the scene on Dinan Bridge. 14-12-23. Image: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews
