SOME 50 students along with other passengers and a Police Officer packed into a minibus heading for Charity narrowly escaped death yesterday morning after the speeding bus hit a small cruiser vehicle on the Andrews Public Road toppling and plunging into a drainage trench.

Eyewitnesses said the overloaded bus was travelling at a high speed when it collided with the cruiser driven by a woman of Somerset and Berks village.
Reports said as the bus toppled and plunged into the trench there were loud screams from students who tried desperately to climb out of the bus.
Many public spirited citizens who rushed to the scene helped pull the children to safety. Several suffered minor injuries but luckily there was no fatality.
Reports said a Police Officer who was in the overcrowded bus was rushed to the Charity Hospital for medical attention.
Residents who gathered at the scene of the accident said it is very surprising to see a Police Officer sitting in a speeding bus that was overcrowded with school children without taking action to arrest the driver and conductor.
Residents are calling on the traffic department of Police “G” Division to stamp out the lawlessness of speeding and overloading of minibuses on the Essequibo Coast public road.
According to reports buses are racing on the public road during the mornings and afternoons while transporting students to and from school.