More than a dozen Jamaican students were rushed to the hospital after a crash involving a bus occurred in St Elizabeth. The incident occurred early Monday when the bus transporting students to Hampton School crashed.
Reports confirmed that the bus crashed along the Holland Bamboo roadway, but details surrounding the cause of the crash have not yet been disclosed. Following the traumatising incident, 14 students, some of whom had Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) exams, were taken to the Black River Hospital for treatment.
The students did not sustain any critical injuries, according to reports. Hampton School Principal Dr Mahvell Charlton-Brown revealed that X-rays were necessary for three of the students, and one student had significant injuries to her front teeth, Jamaica Gleaner reported. Charlton-Brown assured that the student would receive help with her dental issues.
“They have all been dealt with and have now been released. About three of them had to do an X-ray, and one child sustained some injury to her teeth; some of her front teeth were significantly affected, but arrangements are being made through the hospital for her to get attention,” Charlton-Brown said.
Despite the traumatic event, they did not miss their exams. Charlton-Brown said efforts were made to minimise disruption for the Hampton students scheduled to sit their Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) exams. The principal shared that provisions were put in place for those students to take their exams at the hospital. The students have since been released from the hospital, per the report.
School staff also offered immediate counselling to support the emotional well-being of the affected students.
Shortly after the incident, an alert was sent to parents informing them of the accident. According to the report, the message indicated that the bus was operating on the Middle Quarters to Hampton route when it crashed.