Police investigate strange school bus incident that put six kids in hospital

Police are investigating after 15 primary school children became ill after eating lollies from sealed packets passed around on a school bus.

A bus driver has been stood down after more than a dozen kids on the school bus he was driving fell ill under bizarre circumstances.

Police are investigating after 15 primary school children ate lollies from sealed packets passed around on a school bus.

Bus company Kinetic has stood down the bus driver while a police investigation is underway.

“Kinetic is supporting local police with the investigation of an alleged incident which occurred in Townsville yesterday and the bus driver has been stood down,” a statement from the company said.

“We take the safety and welfare of all passengers, in particular children and young people, seriously.”

Paramedics were called to Bluewater State School in Far North Queensland at 10.10am on Thursday following reports multiple children were suffering from minor illness symptoms.

Speaking outside the school, Townsville Senior Sergeant Jonathan Searle told reporters the bus was being examined and the bus driver was “part of our investigation at the moment”.

The students from Bluewater State School fell ill after eating a substance. Picture: Google Maps

The children were vomiting, had diarrhoea and intestinal pain, a spokesman for Queensland Ambulance Service said.

They allegedly ate a lolly while on the school bus that has caused them to become sick, according to The Courier Mail.

Six children were taken to Townsville Hospital in stable conditions to be treated for minor illness symptoms.

A Queensland Police Service spokeswoman told NCA NewsWire that police were assisting the Department of Education and Queensland Health with the investigation into what caused the children to become sick.

She said early information indicates the children were all on the same morning bus, which is being examined.

“From my understanding the children started presenting symptoms within 10-15 minutes of arriving at school,” Sergeant Searle said.

“The children were all on the same morning bus. In my 18 years of service, this is the first time I’ve ever heard of an investigation of this nature.”

Other children on the bus who didn’t require further hospital treatment remained at the school under observation.

Bluewater State School announced on Thursday the school was taking appropriate measures following the health scare.

“Bluewater State School holds the safety of students and staff as its highest priority,” the school wrote on its Facebook page.

“The department is aware of an incident that occurred today at Bluewater State School which required the assistance of emergency services.

“School staff acted quickly to attend to the students while the Queensland Ambulance Service and parents were contacted.

“Due to privacy issues the department is unable to provide any further information.

“Guidance or counselling services are being made available for anyone who may require support.”