by Shaun Milne
UPDATED: POLICE say a 35-year-old woman from Hawick has been killed and five others including three children injured after a head on crash between a 4×4 car and a school bus this morning (mon).
The accident happened around 8.28am in what was described by emergency teams as “wet and greasy” conditions on the A698 road near Jedburgh.
Fire-fighters using hydraulic cutting gear and a special winch managed to cut the woman free from her Suzuki Vitara – but she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service said the school bus – carrying around eight children – had already been evacuated to the side of the road when retained teams from Jedburgh and Kelso arrived.
Three children and two adults from were taken to hospital Borders General Hospital for treatment to minor injuries and shock.
Scottish Borders Council confirmed the accident had involved one of their school buses.
It had been taking pupils back from the Denholm area to Jedburgh Grammar School when the accident happened near Knowe South Lodge.
A spokesman for Lothian and Borders Police said: “The road has been closed while inquiries are carried out at the scene, and local diversions are in place. It is expected that the road will remain closed for up to four hours.”
They added that the identity of the woman would not be released until next of kin had been informed.
