School Bus crashes into tree in Auckland. Photo: RNZ/Calvin Samuel
Five people have been hurt after a public bus crashed into a tree in Auckland.
Emergency services were called to the crash on Elliot Street in the suburb of Pahurehure, about 8:45am on Wednesday.
St John ambulance said three people had been taken to hospital via ambulance, and two of those were in a serious condition.
They said two others were in a moderate condition and had chosen to go to local medical centres themselves.
A scene examination is underway and police have asked the public to avoid the area.
The bus - operated by Ritchies - has been significantly damaged, with its front windows and driver's side windows nearly entirely smashed.
St John ambulance says three people have been taken to hospital via ambulance. Photo: RNZ/Calvin Samuel
A spokesperson for Ritchies confirmed that the bus was a public service bus - 377 - which ran between Papakura and Rosehill.
He said the driver had been tested for drugs and alcohol by police, and had been released after those tests produced negative results.
Police said "testing was conducted at the scene as part of the investigation".
When asked for the results of the tests, police said they would "not be commenting further while an investigation is underway".
The Ritchies spokesperson said the company would be running its own drug and alcohol test on the driver later.
Auckland Transport has been approached for comment. Photo: RNZ/Calvin Samuel
A Rosehill College spokesperson confirmed that students on board the bus were from both Rosehill College and Rosehill intermediate.
She confirmed the bus was an Auckland Transport bus and was not contracted by the school.
She said the school's leadership team were on the scene on Wednesday morning, and would continue to support students and whānau affected by the crash.
Auckland Transport said it would be working closely with emergency services and its contracted bus operator Ritchies to ensure the crash was thoroughly investigated.
"This will have been a distressing incident for everybody onboard the bus and Auckland Transport will be reaching out to passengers today to offer our support," Auckland Transport's director of public transport Stacey van der Putten said.
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