A bus has smashed through a barrier on the Newton Road motorway overbridge. Video / Carson Bluck
An Auckland Catholic girls college is praising emergency services after a bus in which pupils were travelling was left dangling over a motorway overpass.
St Mary's College principal Sarah Dwan said it was fortunate that a staff member was in a car behind the stricken coach and was able to offer immediate help.
"All our students are safe and well, and we are incredibly proud of how they have reacted and responded.
"Support is being provided for the students and their families and we will continue to support all involved.
"A staff member happened to be behind the bus on their way to school who was able to stop and provide support to our students."
A St John spokeswoman confirmed one person was taken to Auckland City Hospital with minor injuries. A total of 24 people were assessed at the scene and some had minor injuries.
Photo / Akula Sharma
The Newton Rd overpass was expected to remain partially closed for "sometime this afternoon" as teams inspected and worked on repairing damage to the wrecked barrier.
Auckland Transport said the vehicle recovery operation had now been completed but motorists were unable to use westbound lanes.
St John received the first call to the incident at 8.04am. An ambulance and a rapid response vehicle were sent to the scene.
The Coachways NZ bus crashed through iron gates and came to a rest wedged on the footpath on the bridge, which is above the Northwestern Motorway.
A staff member at the company referred inquiries to their boss, who was unavailable as he was at the crash scene.
Half of the school bus is hanging over the bridge after a serious crash in central Auckland. Photo / Akula Sharma
Photos and footage show the front half of the bus hanging over the bridge.
The high school students on the bus were transferred to a nearby bus after being checked by St John ambulance staff.
Both directions of the overbridge were closed, as vehicle recovery took place.
Half of the school bus is hanging over the bridge after a serious crash in central Auckland. Photo / Akula Sharma
Firefighters had to cut apart parts of the fence and are now hooking the bus up to pull it out.
An inflation device was placed under the vehicle to raise it up and then winch it to safety.
Firefighters worked to get the bus level enough so that is could be towed off the bridge. Photo / Cheree Kinnear
The crash has caused extensive traffic delays in the area, with vehicles backed up down Khyber Pass Rd and Ponsonby Rd on the other side of the bridge.
'It looked precarious'
Waitematā local board member Glenda Fryer was heading to Newmarket to hand out election leaflets when she came across the crash.
She believes she arrived about a minute after the incident happened, as the children on the bus were starting to get off the bus and emergency services had not arrived yet.
"The kids on the bus were filing out. There wasn't anyone weeping or panicking.
"I was very worried that someone had been injured, [but] there was no one crying or screaming.
Several fire engines and police vehicles are at the scene.
UPDATE 8:35PM Both directions of the Newton Rd overbridge are now fully closed, as vehicle recovery takes place. Please follow direction of emergency services on scene. ^MF https://t.co/4iZS3TWzAu
— Auckland Transport Travel Alerts (@AT_TravelAlerts) September 15, 2022
Auckland Transport is asking motorists to follow the direction of emergency services.
Bus commuters are being advised to check their bus schedules this morning as a result of the crash.
There are delays to several services in the area.
Auckland Transport is telling people: "Allow extra travel time."
