Child killed, over 20 injured: school bus plunges off slope after zoo trip
A child has been killed after a coach carrying them home from a trip to the zoo flipped and fell down a 20ft slope.
Twenty-one people, mostly schoolchildren, have been taken to hospital after the coach crash on the A396 near Wheddon Cross, Somerset at 3.15pm Thursday.
The 70-seater vehicle was taking pupils back to Minehead Middle School when the coach left the road.
An off-duty firefighter travelling behind the coach was able to start freeing passengers immediately.
A person who lives near the scene described the ‘horrendous’ crash.
The resident, who asked not to be named, said: ‘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.
They added: ‘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.’
The distressed parents of the children have been asked to meet at the school.
Police on guard outside Minehead Middle School (Credits: William Dax / SWNS)
Beacon Education Multi-Academy Trust, which runs the school, 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 thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends, and all those affected by this terrible accident.
‘Our entire school community are devastated by this news, and we will do everything we can to support everyone affected.’
Roads are completely blocked off (Picture: SWNS)
Chief Superintendent Mark Edgington told reporters: ‘A number of other people have presented or been taken to hospital, some with serious injuries.
‘This includes two children who were taken to hospital by air ambulance, many passengers either sustained minor injuries or were physically unharmed and were transferred to a rest centre.
‘Work to help them return to Minehead has been taking place throughout the evening.
‘An investigation into the cause of this incident will be carried out.’
Air ambulances have been taking casualties to hospital (Picture: SWNS)
Metro contacted a local pub, The Rest and Be Thankful, near Exmoor, which is working as an emergency centre for the crash. They declined to comment on the situation ‘while there are injured people’.
South Western Ambulance Service said they are responding to the scene. The Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance left and landed in Bristol.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called news of the death ‘heartbreaking’.
‘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.
‘Thank you to the emergency workers who are responding at pace — I’m being kept up to date on this situation.’
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