Latest news with #FreddieSampson
Qatar Tribune
4 hours ago
- Qatar Tribune
College bus crash into river in England sends five to hospital
PA Media/dpa London A college bus which crashed off a road into a river 'like a scene out of the movie Speed' had suffered 'brake failure and a jammed accelerator,' according to one of the first witnesses to reach the scene in southern England. Police have praised the bravery of members of the public and emergency services who helped rescue some of the students and the driver who were trapped on board the Bluestar bus following the accident in Eastleigh. Emergency services were alerted following the crash just before 10 am on Thursday, with 20 people including the driver on board and five people being taken to hospital. The passengers were all students on their way to Barton Peveril Sixth Form College, according to Hampshire Constabulary. A force spokesman confirmed two people - the driver and a passenger - had suffered serious injuries but their injuries were not 'life-threatening.' Eyewitness Kelly West, who lives nearby, said the driver had told her the bus had suffered mechanical failure prior to the crash. She said: 'I heard some noise, I looked out of the window and he just came careening into the river. It felt like he was doing about 60 miles an hour, it felt very fast and obviously he just went straight through the barriers and into the river.' Barton Peveril student Freddie Sampson described the 'manic' scene on board the bus as the driver 'lost control.' He told the public broadcaster BBC: 'We ran into a lamppost and the whole windscreen shattered. It was like we couldn't stop and had to weave through traffic trying not to hit any cars and then the bus driver lost control - we went flying into the river. It was all a bit manic.' Inspector Andy Tester, of Hampshire Constabulary, said: 'It must have been terrifying and my thoughts are very much with the children and the driver on the bus, who must have had a terrifying experience.' He said several people including the driver were trapped on board when emergency services arrived.
The Independent
8 hours ago
- The Independent
Injured student tells of horror and confusion after 19 hurt as bus crashes into Hampshire river
A student has described the moment a double-decker bus he was on board crashed into a river, seriously injuring five people. Several teenagers and the driver were trapped inside the vehicle after it veered off the road in Eastleigh, Hampshire. The bus was taking 19 students to Barton Peveril Sixth Form College when it crashed at around 10am on Thursday in Bishopstoke Road and ended up in the River Itchen. A witness said the driver told them the bus had suffered mechanical failure and the brakes stopped working. One of the students on board, called Freddie Sampson, told of the moment of the crash, and the panic that ensued after. 'We ran into a lamp-post and the whole windscreen shattered,' Freddie Sampson told the BBC. 'It was like we couldn't stop and had to weave through traffic trying not to hit any cars and then the bus driver lost control – we went flying into the river. 'It was all a bit manic. No-one really knew what was going on. I looked out the front to see people moving out of the way, like cars out the front… I looked round... they were all confused and scared.' In a video of the incident, a student on board the bus can be heard saying: 'Oh my god, we are going to die, we're actually going to die' before screaming can be heard and the footage ends. Kelly West, who lives nearby and rushed to the scene, said the driver had told her the brakes had failed and the accelerator jammed. 'I heard some noise, looked out of the window and he just came careening into the river,' she said. Ms West said people were shouting and she found the driver trapped. She said: 'I told him to stop panicking, help was on its way, and he said the brakes failed and the accelerator was jammed and that he was trying to avoid cars.' Inspector Andy Tester, of Hampshire Constabulary, said five people were taken to hospital for treatment. Two of those – the driver and a passenger – had injuries that were serious but not life-threatening, while 14 others, with less serious injuries, were treated at the scene, he said. A total of 19 people were hurt. 'It must have been terrifying, and my thoughts are very much with the children and the driver on the bus, who must have had a terrifying experience,' he said. Mr Tester praised the bravery of passers-by and emergency services in freeing those trapped. The mother of one student said she panicked on hearing about the crash but praised the driver's actions. Gabriela McInnes Perez Cabrera wrote on Facebook: 'My son has just arrived from college. One of his friends sustained a minor injury and went to class after the accident. 'My son showed me a video taken by one student when the bus couldn't stop. They were so scared, the poor ones. 'I think the bus driver did their best and pulled to the river instead of going ahead as they were entering a more populated area.' Another mother said on hearing the news she felt nervous and also panicked. 'I rushed straight here as quick as I could but I couldn't get to my daughter. I'm panicking until I get to see her,' the woman, identified only as Annabel, told the BBC. Police said removing the badly damaged bus, which had ended up in the water below the road level, would be a complex operation. Richard Tyldsley, general manager of bus company Bluestar, said: 'Our thoughts are with everybody involved, and we wish those who were injured a full and speedy recovery. 'At this time, we do not know the circumstances behind this incident and are carrying out an immediate investigation. We are also assisting the police as they carry out their own inquiries.'
BBC News
10 hours ago
- BBC News
Two seriously injured in Eastleigh bus crash as witness says vehicle 'careered into river'
Update: Date: 16:51 BST Title: 'We had to step over injured people' Content: We've been hearing more from 18-year-old student Freddie Sampson who describes how he was directed by emergency workers to leave the bus and wade through the river to safety. "We all went downstairs one at a time," he says. "We had to step over people getting immediate treatment downstairs because there was two people on the floor quite badly injured… I know that one person was quite badly injured on their head. "There was mud everywhere. Down by the bus driver - he was covered in mud completely… People on the bus received injuries and fairly big cuts." Update: Date: 16:24 BST Title: 'It was like we couldn't stop' Content: Barton Peveril student Freddie Sampson was sitting at the front of the bus on the top deck and describes the moment the bus went over the kerb. "We ran into a lamp-post and the whole windscreen shattered," he says. "It was like we couldn't stop and had to weave through traffic trying not to hit any cars and then the bus driver lost control - we went flying into the river. "It was all a bit manic. No-one really knew what was going on. I looked out the front to see people moving out of the way, like cars out the front… I looked round... they were all confused and scared." Update: Date: 16:07 BST Title: Crash scene remains cordoned off Content: A police cordon around the crash scene remains in place. Bishopstoke Road between the Toby Carvery and the Esso garage on the B3037 remains closed while police continue with their investigation. Police said earlier that they anticipate the road will remain closed late into the night. Update: Date: 15:47 BST Title: Police hail 'bravery shown by many people' Content: Insp Andy Tester, from Hampshire police, praises the bravery of members of the public and emergency services who helped at the scene. "There was a lot of bravery shown by many people who were first on scene, who didn't have training to work in water and weren't equipped, but quickly backed up by our fire and ambulance colleagues who did have the right training to make it safe and make it a safe working environment," he says. Update: Date: 15:20 BST Title: Driver and passenger have serious injuries, say police Content: Police have just released this update: "Two people are confirmed to have serious injuries – the driver and one passenger. "Their injuries are not considered to be life-threatening." Update: Date: 15:09 BST Title: 'Shocked and worried' - MP says Content: MP for Eastleigh Liz Jarvis has been giving her reaction to the crash. Speaking on BBC Radio Solent, she says: 'Like everyone, I was very, very shocked and worried about the students who were involved. I understand their parents have all been contacted. "My thoughts are with those who were injured and the emergency services who were on the scene who have done a fantastic job and responded really quickly. "When something like this happens it's about the community coming together. I know the college is doing everything they can to support the students and their parents." Update: Date: 14:46 BST Title: 'I saw cables hanging down from a telegraph pole' Content: Paul Crowther, who works for the local authority, was strimming grass verges near the crash site. He says: "I had all my safety gear on and couldn't hear much. [The] bus must have gone past me, but I didn't notice at the time — I'm only just starting to realise now what could have happened. "[I] looked up and saw cables hanging down from a telegraph pole. A bit further down the road, I saw a set of pedestrian traffic lights that had been hit and were bent in half. 'I helped turn a few vehicles around, but by then the police had arrived and were taking control of the scene. I decided it was best to leave the area. 'I think it probably happened just before 10:00. If it had been an hour earlier, it could have been far worse — there are a few schools nearby, including primary schools.' Update: Date: 14:23 BST Title: Police give update on injuries in 'terrifying' crash Content: Five people, including the bus driver, were taken to hospital for treatment with two of them in a "serious but not life-threatening" condition, according to Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary. Insp Andy Tester says: "It must have been terrifying and my thoughts are very much with the children and the driver on the bus, who must have had a terrifying experience." He adds that several people including the driver were trapped on board when emergency services arrived. He says: "There were a large number of specialist resources helping to get people out of the bus. "Some people had got themselves out of the bus, and it was obviously important to us to triage the injured people, to assess the people who were still stuck in the bus, and to make sure we had accounted for everyone." Update: Date: 13:59 BST Title: Bus remains submerged in River Itchen Content: In a picture just sent back from the scene, the bus can still be seen submerged in the murky water. BBC reporter Jamie Morris says they have been given access to look at the double-decker. "It's gone through metal railings and is on the river bed, not fully submerged," he says. "Both of the top two windows, top and bottom, have been smashed through with mud and debris near the driver's seat." Update: Date: 13:50 BST Title: Resident says bus driver told her 'accelerator jammed' Content: Kelly West was working from home close to the crash and rushed down to help. She says she looked out the window when she heard screeching and saw the bus "come careering into the river". "We ran outside, we ran around the front of the bus, spoke to the driver," she says. The driver told her that the "brakes were not working" and "the accelerator jammed" and he was "doing the best he could to avoid cars as he was coming down the road". She helped the "shocked" students that could get off the bus out of the water and into her garden nearby. Update: Date: 13:25 BST Title: What we know so far Content: Update: Date: 13:14 BST Title: 'I'm nervous, panicking' - parents speak after college bus crash Content: This video can not be played Several parents spoke to the BBC after the crash earlier Update: Date: 13:11 BST Title: Parent says son 'doesn't sound seriously hurt' Content: David Pogson, whose son was on board, has told the BBC: "I got a message on the family chat at work about the accident, which sounded quite serious. "Thankfully it doesn't sound that he is seriously hurt, his friends are all fine. "I have seen some ambulances going away though and I understand some children have been injured." Update: Date: 12:52 BST Title: Mum says daughter called her in tears Content: Annabel says her daughter called her crying and saying the bus had crashed into a river. She hasn't seen her yet but thinks she is a bit "banged up, shocked and has some cuts and bruises". She says parents have been told to wait at The Hub centre while they check on the students involved. Asked how she is feeling, Annabel says: "I'm nervous, I felt panicked, I rushed straight here as quick as I could but I couldn't get to my daughter. I'm panicking until I get to see her." Update: Date: 12:43 BST Title: Wheels of bus can be seen submerged in river Content: BBC reporter Jamie Morris, who is at the scene, says: "A police cordon is in place but I can see the bus over the significant emergency services presence. "Behind is a truck, it has a large crane on it, I am presuming that is going to be used to recover the bus from the water. "The wheels are underwater but the bus is upright and most of it is clear of the water." Update: Date: 12:38 BST Title: College posts advice to parents Content: Barton Peveril Sixth Form College is updating parents through its Facebook page., external It says it is doing its best to support students and has given advice to parents. Update: Date: 12:34 BST Title: Crash leaves trail of destruction at scene Content: We've just had these pictures sent in by Damian Down which shows some of the damage left when the double-decker crashed through a railing into the river Update: Date: 12:27 BST Title: Driver and two others have injuries, bus firm says Content: Bluestar, which operates the double-decker, has said "early reports suggest the bus left the highway and came to rest in a shallow river". 'There were 19 passengers on-board at the time. Our driver and at least two of the passengers have confirmed injuries, and we are awaiting further updates on the status of others on-board," said Richard Tyldsley, Bluestar general manager. 'We do not currently have full details of their injuries and are following their progress closely. 'Our thoughts are with everybody involved, and we wish those who were injured a full and speedy recovery. 'At this time, we do not know the circumstances behind this incident and are carrying out an immediate investigation. We are also assisting the police as they carry out their own enquiries." Update: Date: 12:22 BST Title: Location of bus crash Content: The bus crashed in the Hampshire town of Eastleigh, near Southampton. The B3037 has been closed in both directions and traffic is queueing between Chickenhall Lane to Riverside. Update: Date: 12:18 BST Title: Everyone on bus accounted for, police say Content: Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said: "It is anticipated the road may be closed for up to 12 hours for investigation and recovery work." Police have confirmed everyone on the bus had been accounted for and those injured are being treated by the ambulance service. The force urged people do not attend the actual scene.
