Latest news with #schoolbuscrash
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
Two children and two adults remain in hospital after school bus crash that killed a boy, 10, when 70-seater overturned and slid down 20ft slope
Two children and two adults are still in hospital after the horrific school bus crash that killed a 10-year-old boy. A 70-seater a coach carrying Minehead Middle School pupils on Thursday crashed off the road, flipped onto its roof and slid 20ft down a steep bank. A total of 21 people were injured in the crash as it drove year 5 pupils back from an end of term trip to the zoo. Four children and three adults remain were in hospital - the two remaining youngsters were taken to Bristol Royal Hospital for Children by air ambulance following the accident. A police spokesperson said the investigation into the crash was ongoing. One boy, Jayden, who was on the bus and suffered a suspected broken collarbone in the crash, visited Minehead Middle School to lay flowers at the scene earlier today with his mother Kim. He said: 'I just remember climbing up the hill to get back on the road and that's it. On his injuries, Jayden said: 'I'm alright, it just hurts.' A 70-seater a coach carrying Minehead Middle School pupils on Thursday crashed off the road, flipped onto its roof and slid 20ft down a steep bank. Pictured: People lay floral tributes at the scene She told the BBC she has had to break the news of the child's death to Jayden, adding: 'He's lost a friend.' Emergency services, including five helicopters, rushed to the scene on the A396 in Somerset to free passengers who had become trapped inside the bus. An off-duty firefighter travelling behind the coach was able to save the lives of children by immediately starting to free them minutes after the collision. But he has said he 'couldn't sleep' because of the scenes he witnessed. Alan Jones, 64, ferried passengers to safety by driving them to a safe hub on his quad bike. Mr Jones, who now works as a trainer and lives at East Harwood Farm, said he took a total of eight adults and children to the Rest and Be Thankful Inn in Wheddon Cross. 'They're just so innocent and it wasn't their fault. It was a sorry sight,' he said. 'When you hear it's children from a middle school, I should think everybody dropped everything like I did, because it's just something about children - they're pretty helpless, really. 'I think it would have been wrong not to try and help. I was there in under 10 minutes. 'When I got there, the road was closed and the police were everywhere. Everybody was just looking at the bus. 'I didn't know there were any fatalities at the time, but I knew there were children still in the bus, and all of the police officers were just basically around the bus and there wasn't anybody else about, really; I was the only local person there.' Dozens of pupils, parents and local residents who laid flowers outside the front gates of the school - which closed on Friday following the tragedy. The school's head teacher, Laura Mackie, was among those laying flowers. 'I'm thinking of my staff team who are amazing, dedicated, and all of our wonderful students that have been affected and impacted by this awful, awful incident. 'It's just been horrific,' she told the BBC.
The Independent
2 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Police issue update following fatal school bus crash
A 10-year-old boy died after a school bus crashed in Somerset on Thursday, sliding 20ft down a slope near Minehead. The bus was carrying between 60 and 70 people including pupils from Minehead Middle School, returning from a Year 5 trip to Exmoor Zoo. Avon and Somerset Police shared on Sunday that four people remain in hospital following the incident: two children in Bristol Royal Hospital for Children and two adults in a hospital in Somerset. The community of Minehead is in shock, with floral tributes left at the school gates and fundraisers established for affected families. Minehead Middle School was closed on Friday, and the local vicar described the tragedy as 'absolutely numbing'.
The Independent
2 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Four remain in hospital after Somerset school bus crash
Four people are still in hospital after a school bus crashed in Somerset on Thursday, police said in an update. A 10-year-old boy died after the bus left the A396 at Cutcombe Hill near Minehead and slid down a 20ft slope. Between 60 and 70 people were on board the bus, which was heading back to Minehead Middle School after a day trip for Year 5 classes to Exmoor Zoo. Two children were taken to Bristol Royal Hospital for Children by air ambulance following the incident, while four other children and three adults were taken in hospital in Somerset. On Sunday, Avon and Somerset police said two children remained in hospital in Bristol and two adults were still in hospital in Somerset. Minehead Middle School, which caters for pupils aged between nine and 14, and is five days away from the end of term, remained closed on Friday. A stream of people went to the school to pay respects the day after the crash, leaving floral tributes and messages at the gates. Dozens of bouquets, balloons and messages have been left at the school. Many were visibly upset and could be seen hugging and supporting each other. Speaking outside the school gates, the Rev Philip Butcher, the vicar of Minehead, said the community was in shock. 'It was absolutely numbing, there are no words to describe what happened yesterday,' he said. 'It's an absolute tragedy, and one that's still very much unfolding. We're just standing firm with the school, with the families at this time, just to be with them in this time as a point of support.' Fundraisers have also been set up for affected families, which have raised tens of thousands of pounds in total so far. Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer issued a statement after the crash and said: 'There are no adequate words to acknowledge the death of a child. All my thoughts are with their parents, family and friends, and all those affected.'
The Independent
2 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Former jockey who helped Minehead crash victims says he ‘couldn't sleep'
A former professional jockey who helped adults and children involved in a school bus crash said he 'couldn't sleep' because of the trauma of what he saw. Alan Jones, 64, ferried passengers to safety by driving them to a safe hub on his quad bike following the crash in Somerset on Thursday. A 10-year-old boy died and six children and three adults remain in hospital after the vehicle left the A396 at Cutcombe Hill near Minehead and slid down a 20ft slope. The bus had been carrying 60 to 70 pupils and staff from Minehead Middle School, who were returning from a trip to Exmoor Zoo days before the end of term. Mr Jones, who now works as a trainer and lives at East Harwood Farm, said he took a total of eight adults and children to the Rest and Be Thankful Inn in Wheddon Cross after their school bus overturned. As he had a quad bike, he felt he would be able to get to the road, which had been closed, via the fields and took a rope with him. 'It's the most remote place,' he said. 'The children coming out of that accident wouldn't have known where they were. 'I think it would have been wrong not to try and help. I was there in under 10 minutes. 'When I got there, the road was closed and the police were everywhere. Everybody was just looking at the bus. 'I didn't know there were any fatalities at the time, but I knew there were children still in the bus, and all of the police officers were just basically around the bus and there wasn't anybody else about, really; I was the only local person there.' He said he first helped two teachers on the side of the road. As he drove the two women slowly round the bends towards the pub, he saw a group of children and one adult who had been instructed to head to the pub which had been set up as a safe hub. He said: 'They were just sort of stranded there. They didn't know what was going on, really. 'They wouldn't have known where they were and there were high trees behind and in front of them because the road runs through the cliff a bit. 'You could see they were injured and crying and upset. 'It was too far, these were very young middle school children. They'd just been upside down in a bus, over a cliff, all the windows had broken in the bus, and they'd scrambled out and been helped out by emergency services. 'I presume some of them were told to make their way up but they just couldn't walk up.' When he got to the top, ambulances picked up the two women so he returned to pick up another teacher and child. He said: 'They were in shock. They didn't really say a lot. 'One teacher said: 'I'm never going back on a bus or coach ever again'.' Mr Jones said he could not get to sleep when he returned home to bed. 'They're just so innocent and it wasn't their fault. It was a sorry sight,' he added. 'When you hear it's children from a middle school, I should think everybody dropped everything like I did, because it's just something about children – they're pretty helpless, really. 'They couldn't even walk to the pub because they just got tired, which is quite sad.' The crash happened between Wheddon Cross and Timberscombe, at about 3.15pm on Thursday. The vehicle left the road, overturned and came to rest about 20ft from the road, down a steep slope. Recovery of the vehicle and the investigation are complex, and the PA news agency understands the road will remain closed until the beginning of next week. Fundraisers have also been set up for affected families, amounting to tens of thousands of pounds in total so far. Tributes have been left at the school, which remained closed on Friday.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Former jockey who rescued injured children from school coach crash that killed boy, 10, says he 'can't sleep' from the horror of what he saw inside
A former professional jockey who helped rescue adults and children involved in a horrific school bus crash said he 'couldn't sleep' because of the scenes he witnessed. Alan Jones, 64, ferried passengers to safety by driving them to a safe hub on his quad bike following the crash in Somerset on Thursday. A 10-year-old boy died and six children and three adults remain in hospital after the vehicle left the A396 at Cutcombe Hill near Minehead and slid down a 20ft slope. The bus had been carrying 60 to 70 pupils and staff from Minehead Middle School, who were returning from a trip to Exmoor Zoo days before the end of term. Mr Jones, who now works as a trainer and lives at East Harwood Farm, said he took a total of eight adults and children to the Rest and Be Thankful Inn in Wheddon Cross after their school bus overturned. As he had a quad bike, he felt he would be able to get to the road, which had been closed, via the fields and took a rope with him. 'It's the most remote place,' he said. 'The children coming out of that accident wouldn't have known where they were. 'I think it would have been wrong not to try and help. I was there in under 10 minutes. 'When I got there, the road was closed and the police were everywhere. Everybody was just looking at the bus. 'I didn't know there were any fatalities at the time, but I knew there were children still in the bus, and all of the police officers were just basically around the bus and there wasn't anybody else about, really; I was the only local person there.' He said he first helped two teachers on the side of the road. As he drove the two women slowly round the bends, he saw a group of children and one adult who had been instructed to head to the pub which had been set up as a safe point. He said: 'They were just sort of stranded there. They didn't know what was going on, really. 'They wouldn't have known where they were and there were high trees behind and in front of them because the road runs through the cliff a bit. 'You could see they were injured and crying and upset. 'It was too far, these were very young middle school children. They'd just been upside down in a bus, over a cliff, all the windows had broken in the bus, and they'd scrambled out and been helped out by emergency services. 'I presume some of them were told to make their way up, but they just couldn't walk up.' When he reached the top, ambulances picked up the two women so he returned to pick up another teacher and child. He said: 'They were in shock. They didn't really say a lot. 'One teacher said: 'I'm never going back on a bus or coach ever again'.' Mr Jones said he could not sleep when he returned home to bed. 'They're just so innocent and it wasn't their fault. It was a sorry sight,' he added. 'When you hear it's children from a middle school, I should think everybody dropped everything like I did, because it's just something about children - they're pretty helpless, really. 'They couldn't even walk to the pub because they just got tired, which is quite sad.' The crash happened between Wheddon Cross and Timberscombe, at about 3.15pm on Thursday. The vehicle left the road, overturned and came to rest about 20ft from the road, down a steep slope. Recovery of the vehicle and the investigation are complex, and the PA news agency understands the road will remain closed until the beginning of next week. Fundraisers have also been set up for affected families, amounting to tens of thousands of pounds in total so far. Tributes have been left at the school, which remained closed on Friday.
