Car mounts pavement and hits schoolchildren waiting for a bus in Princes Risborough

The incident happened just before 8am yesterday morning, and eyewitnesses have described a terrifying scene which they say could have been so much worse, if it had happened moments before.

The eyewitness, who raced to help the victims and has asked to remain anonymous, said: "We heard a massive bang, we were first on the scene and it has been really shocking.

"The SUV had drifted along the path and run into three children who were in their teens who were waiting for the bus. One of the children, a girl had seen the car coming and she had shouted and dived out of the way but hurt her head, the boys were unable to get away quick enough and suffered more serious injuries. If she hadn't seen the car and shouted it would have been a lot worse.

"The first bus had just left, it it had been moments before there would have been 20 kids there."

Following the incident the eyewitness said that the driver of the vehicle smashed into a tree and a gate, and when the car came to a stop was slumped against the airbags.

Police confirmed that it is believed that the driver had suffered a medical episode before the crash.

The eyewitness continued: "There are two bus stops on Aylesbury Road and the amount of cars on the road, and the size of the footpaths are not appropriate anymore. It is very poorly designed and has not been updated.

"There is more development planned in Princes Risborough in the next 10 to 20 years and that will make it even worse. They have promised a relief road but when is that going to happen?

"You can't put more traffic on these roads without people getting killed."

A Thames Valley Police spokesman said: "We were called to Aylesbury Road yesterday at 8.02am to reports of a road traffic collision.

"A car had been in collision with three pedestrians, all children.

"The children were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

"It is believed the driver of the car suffered a medical episode prior to the collision.

"The road was closed until about 9.30am."

Councillor Bill Bendyshe-Brown who represents Princes Risborough had only just heard about the incident when he spoke to The Bucks Herald and was still awaiting official information.

He said: "It is absolutely shocking and my thoughts are with all those affected. We are putting in as many measures as we possibly to can, such as dragon's teeth, 30mph signs and the community Speedwatch initiative to try and make things better."