NORTHFIELD — A school bus full of Winnisquam Regional School District students was rear-ended Friday afternoon after stopping at a railroad crossing, causing some concern among the students though no one was seriously hurt.

At 3:55 p.m., police and rescue crews were called to an accident involving a school bus on Concord Road. Upon arriving, they found that the bus had stopped at a railroad crossing at Concord Road and East Side Drive, police said. Police discovered that a Toyota Tacoma being driven by Colin Dowling, 25, of 138 Borough Road, Canterbury failed to stop and rear-ended the school bus.

There were 15 elementary school children on the bus. With help from local rescue crews, the bus driver safely removed the children from the bus.

Police said six or seven of the children complained “about very minor bumps and bruising, but none needed medical treatment, according to Northfield Police Sgt. Timothy Dow.

“They were a little nervous, nothing too serious,” said Tilton-Northfield Fire Department Capt. Timothy Joubert.

The students were relieved to see another district school bus arrive within about 30 minutes.

The driver of the bus was not injured, nor was Dowling. Dow would not say if charges will be filed against Dowling. “We're still investigating, but charges could be forthcoming,” he said. There was extensive damage to Dowling's vehicle and it was towed from the scene, police said. The bus was able to be driven back to First Student Transportation in Tilton. Northfield Police and Tilton-Northfield responders were assisted at the scene by State police.

dseufert@newstote.com