A bus load of school children escaped with only minor injuries in a crash that hospitalised a young truck driver and closed the highway outside Te Puke for almost three hours yesterday.

Emergency services were called to the crash between the Go Bus and light truck at State Highway 2, south of Te Puke, at 8.25am on Tuesday.

A Go Bus carrying Te Puke students and a light truck collided on State Highway 2 on Tuesday.

The 26-year-old driver of the Chaytor Fences truck was initially trapped in the vehicle that was heading south on SH2 when it and the bus, pulling out from Te Matai School, collided.

He was freed by firefighters and transported to Tauranga Hospital in a serious condition.

A Bay of Plenty District Health Board spokesperson says the Waihi man is today in a stable condition in hospital.

Western Bay of Plenty road policing manager, Senior Sergeant Ian Campion, says early investigations indicate the bus turned right out of Te Matai School into the path of the light truck.

'The schools the students were from did a great job yesterday in terms of managing the students and providing support for a number of them who were in shock from what happened,” says Ian.

'They arranged for parents and caregivers to pick them up. Schools were also contacted by the Ministry of Education's Groups Special Education, who offer support in these circumstances.”

The Go Bus was transporting 38 students from Te Puke High School, Te Puke Intermediate, Te Puke Primary School and Fairhaven School from Paengaroa to Te Puke.

Four students suffered minor injuries - two from Te Puke Primary, one from Te Puke Intermediate and the other Te Puke High School. All were treated at the scene for cuts and abrasions but not transported to hospital.

Te Matai School teacher Koha Gourlay was one of the first at the scene of yesterday's crash and says the first thing she remembers from her classroom at the rural school was the almighty bang.

'I reported it straight away and then went over to help assist the children off the bus. There was probably about 40 on the bus from the high school, intermediate and Te Puke Primary,” says Koha.

'One of our pupils had just got off the bus.”

Koha helped three of the injured pupils off the bus while another member of the public assisted the fourth injured pupil.

About 35 Te Matai School pupils were already at school when the crash occurred. Koha says all remained behind the fence as the accident unfolded, making for a disruptive yet beneficial days learning, says Koha.

'They are all a bit shaken and shocked. There was a bit of learning involved about making a 111 call and to watch the services do their job as well.”

'We had four pupils involved in first aid yesterday so it's a good way to follow up how their skills might be useful in the future.”

The crash closed the section of State Highway 2 from Rangiuru Road to Te Matai Road until about midday on Tuesday.

Ian says police are today continuing to investigate the cause of the crash.

'There is a whole lot more for us to do and if there are witnesses out there who saw what happened and haven't already spoken with police we would like to talk to them.”

People with information about the crash can call Tauranga Police Station on 577 4300.

Alternatively, information can be left anonymously via the Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 line.