Police investigate why full school bus left road

Matamata-Piako Police and specialist commercial vehicle investigators are investigating the cause of crash in the eastern Waikato today that saw a school bus come to rest in a ditch.

Sergeant Neil Mansill of the Matamata Piako Strategic Traffic Unit said emergency services were called to the scene of the crash at Tatuanui on SH26 about 8.25am.

"It appears a school bus carrying 36 school children left the road near the intersection with Brown Rd but the driver was able to get the bus back on the tarmac however it has then left the road again, gone into a ditch and come to rest against a fence.

"The children were a bit shaken up a suffered some bruising but fortunately no one was seriously hurt and the driver was taken to a local medical centre for an examination."

Mr Mansill said part of the investigation, which will be carried out by local staff and the District's Commercial Vehicle Investigation Unit, will be to identify what if any factors contributed to the bus leaving the road.

"These enquiries may take some time to establish, at this stage we're very lucky no one suffered any injury and we'd like to thank those who came to the aid of the upset children at the scene."