What started as a routine ride home from school ended in chaos and tragedy Tuesday afternoon in Northern Ireland.
A school bus carrying 40 students from St Paul’s High School in Bessbrook overturned on a remote stretch of Tullyagh Road in Belleeks, County Armagh — leaving the driver dead at the scene.
According to the Police Service of Northern Ireland, officers received reports of a single-vehicle collision on Feb. 17. When emergency crews arrived, the bus was lying on its side along the rural roadway.
“The driver of the vehicle sadly passed away at the scene,” police confirmed. Authorities are treating the death as sudden.
Miraculously, none of the students suffered serious physical injuries — but the emotional shock is another story.
Five ambulances, two paramedics and an ambulance doctor rushed to the crash site as terrified students were evacuated from the overturned vehicle. Parents anxiously waited for word as the scene unfolded.
The bus had been traveling toward Whitecross after collecting pupils earlier in the day. What caused the vehicle to overturn remains under investigation.
The company operating the coach, Quinn Coaches, confirmed the devastating loss in a public statement.
“We are deeply saddened to confirm that one of our drivers was involved in a road traffic accident whilst transporting school children today,” the company said. “Despite immediate emergency response, our dear colleague sadly passed away.”
They described the driver as respected and experienced, adding he will be “greatly missed.”
At St Paul’s High School, administrators quickly activated crisis protocols. Principal Dáithí Murray confirmed that all pupils were safely reunited with their parents but acknowledged the trauma many experienced.
“We appreciate that this will have caused a significant shock to pupils who experienced the incident,” he said, revealing that the Education Authority’s Critical Incident Response Team will be on-site to provide counseling and support.
For the tight-knit community in County Armagh, the tragedy has sent shockwaves. A familiar school route turned into a scene of flashing lights, overturned metal, and heartbreaking loss in a matter of moments.
Investigators are now working to determine exactly what led to the fatal crash.
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