One taken to hospital after school bus crashes into ditch near Levin

A school bus lies in a ditch on the Waikawa Beach Rd near Levin. Photo / Levin Chronicle

An adult has been taken to hospital with minor injuries after a school bus slid into a ditch south of Levin this afternoon.

St John Central Region spokesman Mark Tregoweth confirmed the injury, but did not know if it was a man or a woman.

Central Fire Communications' shift manager Mike Wanoa said the crash occurred when the bus slid into a ditch on Waikawa Beach Rd, at the settlement of Manakau, just after 3pm.

The school bus in the ditch. Photo / Levin Chronicle

Everyone was out of the bus, Wanoa said.

A staff member at nearby Manakau School confirmed their pupils were involved.

The principal, Deborah Logan, had gone to the scene, but the staff member did not have any other details.

Wanoa said he did not know how many people were on the bus.

Police and ambulance by the school bus crash. Photo / Levin Chronicle

A police spokeswoman said earlier "quite a few children were already out of the bus".

Police were called at 3.12pm.

The injured adult was taken to Palmerston North Hospital.