A heroic bus driver suffered cuts and bruises after a Bus Eireann bus was struck by a falling tree during Storm Isha.
The terrifying incident happened in the Donegal to Dublin Expressway service last night.
Bus Eireann had earlier cancelled all their services from Donegal from 9pm until 1am during the height of the Status Red weather alert.
However, the bus at the centre of the incident had left Donegal Town at 7pm before the Status Red alert was due to hit Donegal at 9pm.
As winds began to whip up, the driver took a decision to turn back because of fallen trees along the route.
But as the bus drove back towards Donegal Town it was struck by a large tree outside Milltown in County Fermanagh.
The windscreen was smashed and part of the tree came into the driver’s dashboard causing damage.
The shocked driver was struck by the tree but managed to keep control of the bus and brought it to a safe stop.
One passenger on the bus said it was a terrifying experience but paid tribute to the driver.
The man said “The driver had a few cuts and bruises but wasn’t injured significantly but he did an amazing job in bringing the bus to a safe stop.
“It was quite frightening. It seemed that the tree appeared out of nowhere and suddenly I remember thinking were weren’t going to stop in time so I braced and I remember hearing the windscreen smashing.
“Thank God no one was seriously injured but the driver deserves so much credit in how he reacted. He was very calm considering what had happened.”
The passengers were later picked up by another Expressway bus which was heading from Dublin to Donegal.
But their danger didn’t end there.
Just fifteen into their second journey another tree came crashing down onto the roadway but the bus managed to avoid it.
