Dubai: At least 15 people — mostly students — suffered minor injuries following an accident involving a school bus and a tanker truck on Monday morning, according to Dubai Police.
Police said a number of students were hurt, while three school staff — including a school employee, bus attendant and the bus driver — as well as the tanker driver also suffered minor injuries.
The road mishap resulted in heavy traffic congestion during the morning rush hour.
They were all taken to Rashid Hospital.
At least four students were discharged as of 10am.
The accident took place at around 7am on the Business Bay Bridge crossing towards Al Rebbat Road, Dubai Police said.
The school bus involved in the accident belonged to Our Own English High School Al Warqa branch and a water tanker, officials confirmed.
It was not immediately clear what caused the accident or what is the total number of those injured.
They were all rushed to Rashid Hospital.
A Dubai Police official confirmed the incident to Gulf News and urged drivers to be extra cautious on the road.
The road was cleared shortly. Dubai Police tweeted at 8:23 am: “All the vehicles involved in the earlier road accident have been removed. Traffic is back to normal in Business Bay Crossing bridge.”
Gulf News managed to speak to an employee of the school who was injured in the bus accident.
They were allowed to leave with their parents.
A representative from the school said that nine other children were being kept under observation.
Three othres — the bus conductor, driver and attendant — were also injured and sent to hospital for treatment.
Distraught parents visited the injured students in hospital, but declined to speak to Gulf News.
The school bus was ferrying students from Business Bay to the school in Warqaa.
"It was horrific. It must be around 6.40 am as we usually reach the school premise by 7.10 am," said the visibly shaken employee.
"Everyone was asleep and suddenly the bus braked hard. We all hit our heads on the seat ahead. Some glass windows shattered as well. I was told the bus had hit a water tanker. I am still trembling with fright. They are checking me for internal whiplash injuries," the employee added.
Statement from the Our Own English High School, Al Warqaa:
“We can confirm there was an incident involving one of our school buses on the way to school this morning," said a GEMS spokesperson.
"All students are safe, however, a small number of students and staff sustained minor injuries and have been taken to hospital where they are being treated. All other students who were involved have been taken back to school and have been given a thorough check-up by the school doctor.
"Our priority is to ensure that our students are safe and secure. We can confirm that all students had their seat belts on at the time of the accident, which was in slow moving traffic at Business Bay.”
