A GROUP of schoolchildren had a lucky escape from injury after their school bus left the road and landed in a ditch this morning.
The bus was travelling on icy roads at the time of the incident as temperatures dropped as low as -4C in some parts of the country today.
The bus was travelling on an icy road at the time of the incident[/caption]
The PSNI were called to the scene on the Tattygare Road in Lisbellaw, Co Fermanagh this morning.
Fermanagh is currently the only county in Ireland that is not facing any weather warnings, with the UK Met Office placing Antrim, Armagh, Down, Tyrone and Derry under a Status Yellow weather warning from 4pm this evening until 10am tomorrow morning.
They warned: “Icy stretches will lead to some difficult travelling conditions.”
The PSNI have confirmed that there were no serious injuries reported following the Education Authority school bus crash.
A PSNI spokesperson said: “Police attended a single vehicle road traffic collision involving a bus in the Tattygare Road area of Lisbellaw this morning, Wednesday. No serious injuries were reported.”
It is understood that all the children who were on the bus at the time of the incident were taken off the vehicle quickly and their parents were informed.
Pictures of the scene show a layer of frost and ice coating the road.
The bus appears to have left the road and ended up in a ditch dividing the road and a field, but there is no visible damage to the vehicle in the snaps.
Sharing snaps of the incident on social media, a passerby warned people that the roads in the area were in “bad condition”.
Met Eireann has issued four separate warnings for counties across Ireland over the next two days as the freezing weather makes its mark.
A Status Yellow low temperature and ice warning for the entire country will come into place at 8pm tonight and remain until 12pm tomorrow afternoon.
Met Eireann warned of “hazardous” conditions on roads and paths alongside some travel disruption due to the “widespread frost and icy stretches”.
A Status Yellow snow and ice warning will kick in for Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly, Wexford, Wicklow, Munster and Galway from 9pm tonight and remain in place until tomorrow afternoon.
SNOWFALL EXPECTED
Met Eireann confirmed that they are expecting snowfall accumulations, which will cause hazardous travelling conditions, poor visibility, travel disruption and animal welfare issues.
A 12-hour Status Orange snow and rain warning will come into place for Cork and Waterford at midnight tonight.
Met Eireann warned that flooding is possible and added: “Heavy rain transitioning to sleet and snow.”
A status orange snow and ice warning will kick in at midnight tonight and stay in place until noon tomorrow for Clare, Limerick and Tipperary.
Met Eireann said: “Significant snowfall accumulations expected.”
WARNING FOR DRIVERS
Those living or travelling within these counties are being warned of very difficult travelling conditions and disruption, poor visibility, disruption and delays to public transport, difficult conditions underfoot and animal welfare issues.
Motorists have been urged to take extra care and plan their journeys on the roads due to the freezing weather.
A PSNI spokesperson warned: “Please take extra care on the roads this morning especially on those which may not have been gritted.
“Clear your windscreen of ice and snow before you set off and remember to slow down and increase the distance between you and the car ahead.”
AVOID TRAVEL
An Garda Siochana advised people to consider whether the journey is “absolutely necessary” and urged those who can use public transport to prioritise it over travelling by car.
In their ‘Be Winter Ready’ campaign, Gardai said: “It takes longer to stop a vehicle in snow or on icy roads so slow down and allow extra distance between you and the vehicle in front.”
They urged road users to keep a “sharp lookout” for other road users, keep windows clear of snow during their journey and to use the highest gear possible to reduce engine revs and help avoid wheel spin.
Drivers were also urged to manoeuvre gently and avoid harsh braking, acceleration or steering as these can induce a skid.
Gardai added: “When travelling downhill, especially through a series of bends, select a low gear as early as possible and allow your speed to reduce using the brake pedal gently.”
