What we know as one pupil killed in Somerset school bus crash
The coach was travelling back from Exmoor zoo to Minehead Middle School when it left the A396 at Cutcombe Hill and slid down a 20ft bank on Thursday.
Staff and pupils were among 21 people taken to hospital for treatment, including several who suffered serious injuries.
As investigations get underway into how the crash happened, tributes have been paid with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer describing the incident as "heartbreaking".
What we know
The bus, carrying 60 to 70 people, is believed to have been taking Year 5 pupils from Minehead Middle School, which caters for pupils aged between nine and 14, to Exmoor Zoo as part of its 'Enrichment Week' activities.
But the bus left the A396 at Cutcombe Hill, between Wheddon Cross and Timberscombe at about 3.15pm on Thursday, sliding 20ft down an embankment.
A press conference on Thursday heard that an off-duty firefighter travelling behind the coach was able to start freeing passengers immediately.
Gavin Ellis, of Devon and Somerset Fire & Rescue Service, said: 'We were mobilised to a major incident of a coach that had overturned onto its roof and slid approximately 20ft down the embankment.
'This was a very complex and technically difficult incident for our crews to deal with, and I'm grateful for the tireless effort and actions of the crews in doing everything they could for those who were trapped and as quickly as safely as possible.'
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and Devon Air Ambulance, the HM Coastguard and a police helicopter were all reportedly on the scene, and two children were airlifted to hospital with serious injuries.
The road remained shut overnight, Avon and Somerset Police said.
Beacon Education Multi-Academy Trust, which includes Minehead Middle School among its network, said: "It is with deep sadness and heartbreak that we confirm that a pupil from Minehead Middle School has tragically died following a road traffic incident earlier today involving a coach carrying pupils and staff returning from an educational visit.
"A number of other people have been taken to hospital, some of them with serious injuries. This includes two children who were taken to hospital by air ambulance.
"Our entire school community are devastated by this news, and we will do everything we can to support everyone affected.
"We are working closely with the emergency services and relevant authorities, and we will support our pupils, staff, and families at this incredibly difficult time."
The school was due to be closed on Friday, the BBC reported.
A resident who lives near the crash scene described the incident as 'horrendous'.
The resident, who asked not to be named, told the PA news agency: 'The coach has gone down the slope. It's pretty steep around here and it's a big coach. There are no barriers along there or anything. We're used to it, you don't even notice it.
'I can't believe it happened, quite honestly, it's the biggest thing I have known to go over the slope. It's horrendous, and I'm just so sorry for all those kids on that coach.'
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: "A heartbreaking update on the school bus crash in Somerset.
''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."
What we don't know
While many details have emerged about the crash, some remain unknown.
The child who tragically died in the incident has not yet been named or identified.
The severity of injuries sustained by other children has also not been revealed. Some have been described as serious, though their nature or any details have not emerged.
The cause of the crash has also not yet been established.
Local coach operator Ridlers, which owns the bus, said it had been liaising with the school and the emergency services and confirmed the 70-seater vehicle was travelling back from Exmoor Zoo.
Click below to see the latest South West headlines
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Pilots shut off wrong engine in South Korea crash that killed 179, report finds
[Source] South Korea's Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board revealed on July 19 that the pilots of Jeju Air Flight 2216 shut down the wrong engine during an emergency after a bird strike, leading to the fatal crash on December 29, 2024. The interim findings, based on cockpit voice recordings, flight data and wreckage analysis, showed the flight crew mistakenly switched off the less-damaged left engine rather than the right engine that had suffered the bird strike. This critical error left the aircraft with reduced thrust during an emergency landing attempt near Muan International Airport. Investigators reported that shutting down the functioning engine led to the loss of key electrical and hydraulic systems needed to deploy the landing gear. As a result the aircraft made a belly landing, slid into a concrete embankment and caught fire. The crash resulted in the deaths of 179 of the 181 people on board with only two cabin crew members surviving. The interim report's release was met with criticism from some victims' families who argued it focused too much on pilot error and not enough on other possible factors such as airport safety and infrastructure. The final investigation report is expected next year and authorities have begun reviewing safety procedures at regional airports including wildlife hazard management and emergency protocols. Trending on NextShark: This story is part of The Rebel Yellow Newsletter — a bold weekly newsletter from the creators of NextShark, reclaiming our stories and celebrating Asian American voices. Subscribe free to join the movement. If you love what we're building, consider becoming a paid member — your support helps us grow our team, investigate impactful stories, and uplift our community. Trending on NextShark: Subscribe here now! Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today! Solve the daily Crossword


CNN
2 days ago
- CNN
Alaska Airlines plane hits multiple deer while landing in Kodiak, Alaska. It's more common than you might think
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating after an Alaska Airlines plane struck several deer while landing in Kodiak, Alaska Thursday. Alaska Airlines flight 231, a Boeing 737m had flown the 39-minute flight south from Anchorage and touched down about 8 a.m. Thursday at Kodiak Benny Benson State Airport During the landing rollout at least two deer were crossing the runway and unfortunately, did not survive, Alaska Airlines said in a statement. 'An inspection found damage to the aircraft's main landing gear that will require repairs in Kodiak,' a spokesperson said.'Passenger flights to and from Kodiak were then canceled for the rest of Thursday and guests were rebooked on other flights.' Air traffic control audio from recorded the pilots noticing animals as they came in for landing. 'There is deer on the runway,' the pilot told air traffic control shortly after he was cleared to land, according to audio from 'Roger, do you have an idea of where they are at currently,' the tower responded. 'The intersection,' the pilot responded. The airport closed the runway for a short time while crews cleared the remains, finding at least two carcasses. The plane was able to taxi and park without further incident. No passengers or crew were injured in the incident, the airline said. 'The pilots need to come down and look at this, if you can just give them a shout and they can come – yeah,' an airport worker on the ground told the tower in the LiveATC recording. The plane involved remains at Kodiak and has not flown since the strike, according to flight tracking website FlightAware. Aircraft collide with animals every day at airports across the country, with more than 22,000 strikes reported last year alone, according to the FAA's wildlife strike database. Planes at Kodiak Airport hit animals five times last year, all of them birds, including two bald eagles. Across the US last year, planes hit deer more than two dozen times. In 2024, the database also includes planes colliding with three alligators in Florida, a mongoose in Hawaii, a badger in North Dakota and numerous coyotes, bats, skunks and opossums.


CBS News
2 days ago
- CBS News
Worker rescued after construction equipment tips over in Oak Forest, Illinois
A worker was rescued after his construction equipment fell into a hole and tipped over early Friday morning in Oak Forest, Illinois. The Oak Forest Fire Department said they were called for an overturned crane with someone trapped inside at the Oak Forest Hospital grounds around 8:36 a.m. Fire crews, along with other agencies, were able to extricate and transport the patient to a local hospital. The worker's condition is unknown. No other injuries were reported. The worker was seen shaking hands with other workers before being placed inside the ambulance. No further information was immediately available.