By Marlene Ditchfield AN asthmatic Masterton bus driver was was left gasping for breath as he arrived at a busy intersection when a group of Wairarapa College students let off smoke bombs on board. The bus filled rapidly with acrid, coloured smoke and the part-time driver, a retired Masterton man,
had to manoeuvre through the intersection before being able to pull up at the side of the road. Once stopped, the driver emptied the bus and located the culprits, understood to have been girls. Wairarapa College principal, Michael Schwass said his deputy Karene Biggs had dealt with the aftermath of the incident and that the offenders had been banned from travelling on the bus for a week when school resumes after the term holiday. They were also to be monitored to ensure good behaviour. Mr Schwass said Tranzit Coachline's health and safety officer had been called in to investigate and there had been a good discussion between the bus company and the school. Te school recognised it needed to discipline the students but the safety issue was one for Tranzit to examine, he said. Tranzit manager Les Cockeram said while it was a potentially serious situation, he was happy with the outcome as a result of the health and safety officer's investigation. "We don't have a heap of authority over school students, who are effectively clients travelling on the bus" "Once we have ascertained the driver's safety and the vehicle's road worthiness it is left to the school to discipline the pupils." Tranzit's health and safety officer Paul Thompson, who is also a Masterton fireman, said he understood six smoke bombs had been let off in the bus. He said he was not sure where smoke bombs were purchased. The one's let off in the school bus had caused many on board to become frightened, and especially scared the driver, he said.
