What we know as boy, 10, killed in Somerset school bus crash

Yahoo

4 days ago

A 10-year-old boy has died and several people suffered serious injuries after a coach returning from a school trip flipped onto its roof and slid down a 20ft bank in Somerset.
The coach was travelling back from Exmoor Zoo to Minehead Middle School when it left the A396 at Cutcombe Hill.
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 saying: "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 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.
Six children and three adults remain in hospital. Two children were taken to Bristol Royal Hospital for Children by air ambulance following the incident, while four other children and three adults remain in hospital in Somerset, Avon and Somerset Police said.
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.'
Rachel Gilmour, MP for Tiverton and Minehead, said: 'It's a very difficult road, very, very steep, very windy, and it's just the nature of rural roads in my constituency, you know, Minehead famously, only has one road that takes you into it on the A39 and if you're coming from where I live in Bampton or across the Moor, those are the roads that you have to use.'
She said the crash was 'tragic' and she was 'heartbroken for the parents and the school and the wider family'.
Ridlers Coaches director Peter Prior-Sankey said in a statement: 'Everyone at Ridlers is truly devastated by yesterday's tragic incident and our thoughts and prayers remain with the pupils, their families, and the school.
'Our thanks go to the incredible emergency service teams for their response, and to those across our local hospitals and community who have done so much for those impacted over the last 24 hours."
He said the driver was in a stable condition but had suffered a number of injuries, and said staff at the company are being supported, while he and his team are liaising with Somerset Council. He said a decision had been made not to run any school routes into Minehead today, and that ongoing discussions will be had over the coming days concerning any other affected routes or contracts.
Flowers and tributes were laid outside the school on Friday following the crash.
Staff from Old Cleeve Pre-School wrote: 'Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by this tragic incident.'
Another said: 'Thinking of everyone at this heartbreaking and devastating time. Our community is holding you all tight and surrounding you with love.'
Reverend Philip Butcher, vicar of Minehead, 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.
'This is a big, big, big tragedy, and it will affect people for a long time to come. I know this community is so strong that it will be here in all its forms to support everybody fully as far as they need.'
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.
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