Gardaí in Kilkenny are continuing to investigate the circumstances of a Road Traffic Collision yesterday involving a lorry and a bus carrying approximately 40 Transition Year students from Coláiste Phobal Roscrea.
Eight students, two teachers and the drivers of both vehicles were hospitalised after the collision. The crash happened on the N77 close to the Dinan Bridge on the Kilkenny to Ballyragget Road at Ardloo, at approximately 10.20am.
Tipperary Education and Training Board(TETB) says the students and teachers involved have received treatment for non-life threatening injuries at St Luke’s Hospital in Kilkenny, with one student and one teacher still in hospital. The two drivers also remain in hospital – the bus driver, aged in his 40s, was airlifted from the scene to Tallaght hospital while the lorry driver, aged in his 50s, was taken to Tullamore Regional Hospital
NEPS, the psychological support service of the Department of Education, are supporting the school, and the school’s Critical Incident Team has been convened. Tipperary ETB adds that it will work with staff and students affected to ensure they receive any necessary support after experiencing this traumatic event.
Gardaí in Kilkenny are appealing for any witnesses to this collision to come forward.
Road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) from the N77 in the vicinity of Ardloo at the time of the collision are asked to make it available to investigating Gardaí.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Kilkenny Garda station on 056 7775000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.
