Schoolbus and vehicle collide in Masterton

Children were left shaken but unhurt when a sleeping driver hit the side of their schoolbus with her car in Masterton this morning.

The 46-year-old woman fell asleep at the wheel while driving through Masterton about 7.40am after an early morning return trip to Wellington airport, Constable Raewyn Joblin said.

"She fell asleep on High Street...a bus travelling south to Featherston tried to avoid it, but didn't."

Ms Joblin said there were a number of students from primary and high school on the bus, who were "pretty shaken", but unhurt.

Part of the bus's side was ripped away and the children were transferred to another bus.

The front and drivers side of the woman's car was extensively damaged, she said.

"She was very fortunate to not be injured.

"I think the fact that she was asleep that was stopped her from getting rigid, she was obviously relaxed."

Ms Joblin said careless driving charges could be laid.