Boy in critical condition after being hit by school bus

Photo / File / David Rowland

A 7-year-old Nelson boy is in a critical condition after being hit by a school bus he walked in front of this morning, police say.

The boy was crossing Atawhai Crescent on his way to a bus stop about 8am.

Several children were in the area and saw the accident, Acting Senior Sergeant Blair Hall said.

A St John Ambulance Tasman District spokesman said the boy was now at Nelson Hospital.

"The young child is in a critical condition ... with multi-trauma injuries," the spokesman told Radio New Zealand.

He was suffering from internal injuries as well as injuries to his arms and legs, he said.

A serious crash investigation has been launched.

Early indications were speed was not a factor and the bus was undergoing an inspection, Mr Hall said.

The full result of the police investigation would not be known for several days and any liability would not be known until then, he said.