Witnesses at the scene of a crash involving a school bus and car in Welcome Bay this morning believe sunstrike may have been a factor.

The Go Bus labelled ‘Aquinas No3' had no students on board when the maroon Ford crashed into the rear of the bus about 7.50am.

A Ford Laser rear-ended a school bus on Welcome Bay Road.

The accident happened in the south-bound lane of Welcome Bay Road past the Welcome Bay Village between Forrester Drive and Esmerelda Street.

A woman driver and two children, aged four and seven, where in the vehicle and taken to Tauranga Hospital with minor injuries by St John Ambulance.

Witness Luke Leaf was discussing the sun angle with a man walking his dog when the crash occurred in front of them.

'We were talking about it, and bang. Right where we were standing,” says Luke.

The woman driver was unconscious when they reached the vehicle. Luke says the two children in the vehicle were both buckled in.

The mother was not wearing her seat belt, says Luke.

Tauranga Police Senior Sergeant Ian Campion says the schoolbus was parked at a bus stop when a car driven by a Tauranga woman crashed into the back of it.

"Police understand the children were taken to hospital for observation and may have only sustained minor injuries.

"The driver and sole occupant of the bus was not injured."

"The collision blocked the Papamoa-bound lane of Welcome Bay Road and whilst there was some disruption to traffic flows, this was not significant as the main traffic flow at that time of the day is city bound."

Police are continuing to investigate the cause of the crash but police are urging drivers to concentrate on driving and minimise distractions.

"It only takes a moment's inattention to cause a crash."

Police at the scene say no one suffered serious injuries.