Child dies as 20 hospitalised after school trip bus slipped 20ft down embankment

Daily Record

a day ago

The school coach slid 20ft down a bank after it flipped onto its roof.
A child has died after a bus crashed on its way back to school after a day trip. More than 20 people have been taken to hospital after the major incident - including two children who were conveyed to hospital via air ambulance.
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Avon and Somerset Police confirmed in a press conference at 9pm that one child that at the scene and that several others are being treated for serious injuries. A bus carrying between 60 and 70 people crashed around 3pm on the A396.
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Earlier, the force declared a major incident and emergency services continue at the scene. The coach is believed to have been returning to Minehead Middle School after a day trip when it crashed.
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Most of the people onboard were able to get off the bus. The police force has confirmed that fire crews were called to the scene to free a number of people from the wreck.
Those who have not been taken to hospital have been taken to a rest centre in Wheddon Cross. Parents have been asked to head to the school where officers are there to help.
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Somerset Live reports Avon and Somerset Police added: "The road remains closed. We'd please ask people avoid the area so emergency services' response to this incident is not impacted.
"We also ask for the public's patience at this time. This is an ongoing incident and we will provide further updates as soon as they become available."
An MP burst into tears while being interviewed on BBC News over the incident. Rachel Gilmour, Liberal Democrat MP for Tiverton and Minehead, was being interviewed on BBC News after a coach carrying between 60 and 70 people crashed.
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Avon and Somerset Police confirmed in a press conference at 9pm that one child has died and two other children were air lifted to hospital following the serious crash this afternoon. A total of 21 people have been taken to hospital.
The school coach slid 20ft down a bank after it flipped onto its roof, the press conference was told. 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.
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'We were mobilised to a major incident of a coach that had overturned onto its roof and slid approximately 20ft down the embankment,' he told reporters.
'Our crews carried out a number of extrications and rescues in extremely difficult circumstances, and they also supported our ambulance colleagues with casualty treatment.
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'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.
'I'm also grateful to the off-duty firefighter who was traveling behind the coach at the point of the crash who was able to start to release those casualties from the bus.'
Wayne Darch, deputy director of operations for the South Western Ambulance Service said: "We declared a major incident that has since been stood down.
"We sent 46 resources to the scene, including 20 double-crewed ambulances, three air ambulances, a command team and two hazardous area response teams. We treated several patients at the scene and conveyed 21 patients to hospital via land and by air."