THE Gordon Town police have confirmed that eight schoolchildren were injured in a bus accident along Dublin Castle Road in Gordon Town, St Andrew, Tuesday afternoon.

According to the police, a white Toyota Hiace bus carrying students from St Martin De Porres Primary School and Louise Bennett-Coverley Primary School developed mechanical issues as it was travelling along the Dublin Castle main road.

“The driver reportedly heard ‘bubbling sounds’, which resulted in the vehicle shutting off. He then ordered the passengers to vacate the vehicle so that he could investigate the issue,” the police told the Jamaica Observer.

The driver, after successfully restarting the bus, reloaded the students and attempted to drive off, however, the bus shut off once again, ran back down the hill, mounted the banking, and overturned on the top, the police said.

There were no fatalities and the eight students were rushed to University Hospital of the West Indies along with the driver who, according to the police, sustained burns on his arms and back, with one arm seemingly broken.

The police are still probing the matter.

— Renae Osbourne