Ten passengers were taken to hospital last night (THU) when their bus went off the road in icy conditions near Stornoway. The emergency services were called to the scene, beyond the town waterworks on the road from Newmarket to Barvas, around 9.30pm after the bus operated by Galson Motors slid completely off the carriageway.
There had been 10 passengers as well as the driver on the bus which was on the way to Ness and police said that all were taken to Western Isles Hospital for check-ups. The Scottish Ambulance Service said: “Three have minor injuries and another passenger with back pain was taken as a precaution.”
A female aged 17 was kept in hospital and all the others were later allowed home. There had been concern earlier in the evening from road users about the effect of black ice in the area. It was suggested by some observers that a request for gritting to be carried out was declined.
A police spokesman said: “We would ask all drivers to take care on the roads as the nights get darker. It may not always be possible to see how slippery roads have become.”
