This morning, about 54 passengers aboard a Tillett bus had a terrifying experience when it ran off the Boom-Hattieville road and ended up overturned on its right side, in a deep ditch running along the highway.
It happened just before 6:00 near the dump site.
The bus was a charter for a school trip from the Santa Clara/San Roman RC in the Corozal district, along with their teachers and their parents. The children were headed to Xunantunich, but their ill fated trip ended many miles way on the Boom road.
Fortunately no one was seriously hurt; about 20 persons, 8 students, and 12 parents and teachers, suffered minor injuries. The conductor was the only person who ended up trapped inside the overturned bus. Fortunately, he was rescued, and everyone who got hurt in the accident were rushed to the KHMH for medical check-ups.
This afternoon, we got a chance to speak with the principal of the school this trip which ended in a near disaster:
Humberto Juarez - Principal, Santa Clara/San Roman RC School
"We were heading to Xunantunich. We had 3 buses, and we had hired Tillett's bus services. 2 buses had gone a little ahead, and the third bus was following, but in the Boom cut-off, upon reaching there, apparently the driver lost control due the fact that he was feeling a little ill. That's when the bus overturned."
"We had about 54 children in the bus. There were there adults, some parents too, and the teachers who were in charge of the bus."
"The families are very concerned about the accident. The children, certainly many of them had minor injuries. Then, those that had more severe injuries, well, everybody was brought to the KHMH, and they have bee attended to and taken care of. Right now, we're just awaiting the release of about 2 more children, and 2 more parents."
Reporter
"Sir, do you all have any ideas of exactly what happened to cause the driver to lose control. You said he became ill."
Humberto Juarez
"Well, what we have gathered so far is that maybe he had an instance of high blood pressure, or something to that effect. That's what they told us, but right now, the driver himself right now is hospitalized."
Reporter
"For you, it must have been horrific when you received the news that the bus turned over, and persons were onboard, and there might have been injuries."
Humberto Juarez
"Certainly, it was. As a principal, I froze for a moment, wondering what had happened to the children, the parents. But, we starts to make the necessary calls arrangements to find out what had happened."
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