A woman in her 70s was critically hurt Thursday morning in a crash involving a school bus and a crane in southwest Ottawa, near the community of North Gower, paramedics say.

The crash happened just before 7:30 a.m. Thursday at McCordick Road and Roger Stevens Drive, west of North Gower.

An Ornge air ambulance responded to the crash and took the woman in critical condition to the Ottawa Hospital's Civic campus trauma unit. (Ottawa Paramedic Service)

An Ornge air ambulance responded and took the woman — who was driving the school bus — to the Ottawa Hospital's Civic campus trauma unit, paramedics said.

She suffered head and chest trauma, and was rescued from under the crane by firefighters.

Fire crews contain spill

A 47-year-old man who was driving the crane was taken by Leeds Grenville paramedics to Kemptville District Hospital. He suffered minor to moderate injuries, paramedics said.

A 17-year-old girl, the only other passenger on the bus, was assessed by paramedics but was not injured and did not need to be taken to hospital.

Fire crews contained a spill of about 150 litres of diesel fuel and hydraulic fluid. City of Ottawa crews and the Ministry of the Environment were notified, firefighters said.

Roger Stevens Drive is closed between Malakoff Road and Fourth Line Road. McCordick Road is closed between Pollock Road and Church Street.

Motorists are asked to avoid the area.

The scene right now at McCordick Road and Roger Stevens Drive, west of North Gower. One woman critically injured. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ottnews?src=hash">#ottnews</a> <a href="https://t.co/75MLh2xjFS">pic.twitter.com/75MLh2xjFS</a> —@idilmussa

The crane ended up in a ditch, flipped over. (Scott Stilborn/Ottawa Fire Services)