School bus transporting 41 people crashes in Mount Maunganui

The damaged bus. Photo / Leah Tebbutt

Eight people have been injured after a bus carrying primary school students collided with a van in Mount Maunganui.

A police spokeswoman said the crash happened on Hewletts Rd about 9.20am and there were about 41 children on board the bus.

Arataki Primary School principal Shelley Blakey confirmed their students were on the bus.

"There have been no serious injuries however a number of children have been taken to ED as a precaution." she said.

According to the St John Twitter page, four ambulances went to the scene and eight people were injured, three with moderate injuries and five with minor injuries.

A Bay of Plenty District Health Board spokeswoman said four patients were brought to Tauranga Hospital, and all were treated and discharged.

A reporter at the scene said the front of the bus had been smashed, its windscreen was cracked, and children could be seen onboard.

Emergency services at the scene of a crash between a school bus and a van in Maunt Maunganui. Photo / Leah Tebbutt

The crash was in the bus lane heading towards the harbour bridge.

Another bus had arrived at the scene to transport the children involved away from the scene.

The back of the van involved was smashed in and paint had exploded, including on to the windscreen of the bus.

24/9/19 09:21: Traffic incident in Mount Maunganui . 8 patients treated, 8 patients transported to Tauranga Hospital. https://t.co/aoQMwrmrZ5

— St John (@StJohnAlerts) September 23, 2019

Chloe Adair from Hirepool was standing in the yard when the crash happened.

"The van involved was coming to get a piece of equipment. I raced over to the driver and he was pretty terrified," she said.

She said parents and children were on board the bus and they were on a school trip.

More to come.