EXCLUSIVE: Teenager hurt in fatal bus crash helps other injured

MFR News has spoken exclusively to one of the passengers on the bus that crashed on the outskirts of Munlochy on Friday 11 January around 5.40pm.

Matthew Beattie was travelling home from his work in Inverness on the No.26 single decker bus when it hit the Littlemill Bridge on the B9161 just outside Munlochy.

The 18 year old said: 'I tried to grab a pole to grab onto but it was too late and the bus flipped and crashed.

'I remember missing the pole, smacking my head off the seat in front of me, and then being tossed around the bus, then landing through some glass and onto my feet.

'It happened pretty fast.

'It was unlucky for some that got trapped under the bus. I tried to help one guy by keeping him calm but the pain was just too great for him., I tried to keep him calm. I tried to comfort him and tell him that help was on the way.

'There was still people on the bus so me and another person decided to kick out the back window to try and get people out. I got a few cuts on my leg but it's better to get people out of danger.

'After that people got out of their cars and started helping.

'At the time I didn't even know I was cut, I was in an adrenaline rush. But as I got onto the wall, they (the ambulance) sat me down, I had multiple cuts to my head, a majorly deep cut to my calf, and a whole load of other cuts throughout my body as well.'

Police confirmed the 50 year old driver of the bus died from the accident.

There were nine passengers on board when the accident happened, three were seriously injured and the six others had only minor injuries.