A schoolboy has been left with “life changing” injuries after being crushed by a bus in a Dunfermline car park.
The 13-year-old was reportedly trapped under the Bay Travel vehicle for 30 minutes while fire fighters worked to free him.
He was later rushed to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary with serious leg and arm injuries after the horrific accident in Allan Crescent.
Another boy, aged 12, was also injured in the incident, although he is understood to have escaped with only minor injuries and was treated at the scene.
He was described as “walking wounded” by the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS).
A local shopworker said: “He was hit by the bus and his leg and arm were crushed by it. A fireman was underneath the bus and the boy was begging him to help him.
“He was in a lot of distress.”
Eyewitnesses suggested the 13-year-old victim was dragged under the vehicle in Allan Crescent shortly before 3.45pm yesterday, sparking a huge response from police, the SAS and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS).
It is understood the boy was taken under police escort to Edinburgh suffering from serious leg and arm injuries, although the full extent of those has not yet been divulged.
The incident happened in the car park beside Abbeyview Bowling Club at around 3.45pm.
Police vehicles, including a collision investigation unit, descended on the area and the car park was cordoned off.
Eyewitness Mark McGuirk, 19, who lives nearby, said: “I heard people saying ‘move, move, move’.”
He described seeing two boys “go underneath” the bus and hearing screaming.
“One was lucky. There were just scratches on the boy.
“To be honest, I thought it was a good thing the other one was screaming. It meant he was still alive.”
The bus in question is registered to local firm Bay Travel and could be seen parked in Abbeyview Bowling Club’s car park as investigations into exactly what happened got under way.
Based in Cowdenbeath, the operator declined to comment when contacted by The Courier.
The scene is a five-minute walk from Woodmill High School, and adjacent to Abbeyview Library.
Police have been speaking to the driver, who has not yet been identified and is understood to have been left badly shaken up.
A Police Scotland spokesman said: “Police in Fife were called to a car park in Allan Crescent in Dunfermline at around 3.45pm on Tuesday February 28 following a report of a collision involving a bus and two children.
“A 12-year-old boy was treated at the scene by the Scottish Ambulance Service and a 13-year-old boy has been taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary with serious injuries.
“Anyone with information about this which may be able to help with the investigation is urged to contact Police Scotland on 101 as soon as possible.”
A spokesman for the SFRS said: “The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was alerted at 3.43pm on Tuesday February 28 to reports of a road traffic collision on Allan Crescent in Dunfermline.
“Three appliances were immediately mobilised to the scene.
“Firefighters assisted in moving the bus to allow paramedics to reach a casualty.”
