School children had a lucky escape yesterday afternoon after the bus they were travelling in was involved in a serious crash with a car on the Hinterland Way at Bangalow during heavy rain and stormy conditions.

Emergency services were called just before 3.45pm (Thursday, August 21) following reports of a collision between a car and a bus.

The car’s driver, a 38-year-old woman, was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being airlifted to Gold Coast University Hospital in a critical condition.

The bus driver, a 66-year-old man, escaped injury but was taken to Byron Bay Central Hospital for mandatory testing.

Police confirmed that several school children were on board the bus at the time of the crash — all were unharmed.

Officers from Byron Tweed Police District established a crime scene and investigations into the cause of the crash are continuing.

The Hinterland Way was closed for several hours before reopening shortly after 8pm.

Although the weather is expected to clear today, police are urging drivers to remain cautious on Northern Rivers roads after the dangerous conditions of recent days.