Ethel Lingad, left, and Alaina Le Page were both hurt in an incident on their school bus on Monday. Above, how the Guernsey Press reported concerns expressed by Alaina’s mum. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 0651537)

TWO schoolgirls were hurt and left badly shaken after an incident on their school bus. Twelve-year-old Alaina Le Page and her mother expressed concerns about bus safety at the start of term and the Guernsey Press reported those on 13 September.

On Monday, Alaina gashed her hand on the bus home from school. ‘I pushed the bell to stop the bus,’ she said. ‘I wasn’t too far forward. When the driver braked, I grabbed hold of the timetable holder. It happened so fast. The driver didn’t even ask if I was OK.’

Nine-year-old Ethel Lingad was standing next to Alaina when the incident happened and was badly bruised in the incident.

The Environment Department has looked at CCTV footage of the incident and said that the bus was not full at the time. ‘It is clear the bus was not at full capacity,’ said Environment minister Peter Sirett. ‘At least three seats were empty and only five or six students were standing. It is appalling that the behaviour of some students at the front of the bus contributed, without a doubt, to the outcome of the incident. Had those students been seated or holding onto the rails and not interfering with the safe use of the bus, the innocent, well-behaved female student who was waiting to alight would not have been knocked forward.’

Island Coachways is looking into the matter. ‘Obviously we take any complaint very seriously,’ said managing director Hannah Beacom.