LIVE UPDATES: Children and young woman taken to hospital after crash at Highway 52 and 59, motorists urged to avoid area

***Updated Wednesday at 4:33 pm

The following is a statement provided by Hanover School Division on Wednesday at 4:33 pm:

Late this afternoon, HSD School Bus #81 collided with another vehicle at the corner of Hwy #52 and Hwy #59. The bus was en route back to Steinbach Regional Secondary School from a field trip. In addition to the driver, 18 students and one teacher were on the bus.

RCMP and emergency personnel were on the scene. All students were immediately triaged by EMS personnel. As a precaution, six students and the bus driver were transported to hospitals for further examination. After being triaged, a recovery bus transported the remaining students back to Steinbach Regional Secondary School. Parents/caregivers of those involved were notified.

***Updated Wednesday at 4:03 pm

Hanover Fire Chief Paul Wiebe says their crews were called to the scene at around 2:15 pm.

"It did have injuries," says Wiebe. "Currently the highway is closed. 59 and 52 that intersection is closed."

Wiebe says the intersection will be shut down for the next while.

"We do not know when it will be reopened," says Wiebe. "But if commuters could just avoid the area, it would make the people on the ground, make their jobs a lot easier."

He notes traffic is being detoured along municipal gravel roads. 

***Updated Wednesday at 3:42 pm

A female motorist was airlifted to hospital Wednesday afternoon following a serious collision at the intersection of Highway 52 and 59.

St. Pierre RCMP responded to the crash at 2:20 pm, involving a vehicle and school bus from Hanover School Division. According to police, the school bus was heading south and attempted to make a left-hand turn onto Highway 52, when it was struck by the northbound vehicle.

Police say the driver of the vehicle, a 19-year-old female, was taken to hospital by STARS with serious injuries.

A couple of the children on the bus were taken to hospital for precautionary reasons.

Police advise that the intersection will be closed for some time yet as the investigation continues. Motorists are urged to avoid that intersection for the next while.

This is a developing story, and we will provide more details as they become available. 

Students were posting photos of the crash to social media Wednesday afternoon

***Updated Wednesday at 3:24 pm

Emergency crews are at the scene of a multi vehicle crash at the intersection of Highway 52 and Highway 59.

It appears a Hanover School Division bus and a car collided there earlier this afternoon.

In a post on social media, a student onboard the bus said, "we just crashed into a car it hurt so bad."

STARS air ambulance has been called to assist. 

RCMP are telling motorists that the highway will be closed for at least a couple of hours.

This is a developing story and we will provide more information as it becomes available.