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| Five people taken to hospital after college bus crashes into Hampshire river | Five people taken to hospital after college bus crashes into Hampshire river |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Police say two onboard bus carrying sixth-form students were seriously injured during incident near Eastleigh | Police say two onboard bus carrying sixth-form students were seriously injured during incident near Eastleigh |
| Five people have been taken to hospital, two with serious injuries, after a doubledecker bus carrying sixth-form college students crashed into a river in Hampshire. | Five people have been taken to hospital, two with serious injuries, after a doubledecker bus carrying sixth-form college students crashed into a river in Hampshire. |
| About 14 others were treated at the scene after the bus came to rest upright in the River Itchen. | About 14 others were treated at the scene after the bus came to rest upright in the River Itchen. |
| Police said two of the five had serious but not life-threatening injuries and the driver was among those taken to hospital. | Police said two of the five had serious but not life-threatening injuries and the driver was among those taken to hospital. |
| Members of the public helped emergency workers rescue the students on the bus, who were from Barton Peveril sixth-form college in Eastleigh, Hampshire. | Members of the public helped emergency workers rescue the students on the bus, who were from Barton Peveril sixth-form college in Eastleigh, Hampshire. |
| The bus’s front windows were smashed and the windshield wipers were hanging from the vehicle. The driver’s cab was filled with mud, while water reached halfway up the wheel arches. | The bus’s front windows were smashed and the windshield wipers were hanging from the vehicle. The driver’s cab was filled with mud, while water reached halfway up the wheel arches. |
| Passengers were evacuated through side windows and emergency workers cut away railings to allow them to get back to the road. | Passengers were evacuated through side windows and emergency workers cut away railings to allow them to get back to the road. |
| James West, who lives close to the scene of the crash, said: “It sounded like a bomb, that’s the best description. Bits of the bus ended up in our garden. | James West, who lives close to the scene of the crash, said: “It sounded like a bomb, that’s the best description. Bits of the bus ended up in our garden. |
| “I think he [the driver] was a bit of a hero in all honesty, because he could’ve taken out cars, houses. He could’ve taken out pedestrians. | “I think he [the driver] was a bit of a hero in all honesty, because he could’ve taken out cars, houses. He could’ve taken out pedestrians. |
| “We could hear a lot of distressed people on the bus. My wife went down the back of the garden and helped people get out.” | |
| Insp Andy Tester, of Hampshire police, praised the courage of those who helped. “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,” he said. | Insp Andy Tester, of Hampshire police, praised the courage of those who helped. “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,” he said. |
| “We believe that everyone, every passenger on the bus, was a student heading to Barton Peveril college. Their families have been notified.” | “We believe that everyone, every passenger on the bus, was a student heading to Barton Peveril college. Their families have been notified.” |
| He added: “There’s no indication at the moment as to why the bus left the road. We have to do a thorough examination of the scene, and then there’s a complex recovery of getting the bus out of the river.” | He added: “There’s no indication at the moment as to why the bus left the road. We have to do a thorough examination of the scene, and then there’s a complex recovery of getting the bus out of the river.” |
| At least five ambulances were sent to the road where the incident happened and air ambulances were scrambled. | At least five ambulances were sent to the road where the incident happened and air ambulances were scrambled. |
| A spokesperson for South Central ambulance service said: “We have sent multiple units to the incident including five ambulances, two helicopters, and specialist response units.” | A spokesperson for South Central ambulance service said: “We have sent multiple units to the incident including five ambulances, two helicopters, and specialist response units.” |
| A spokesperson for the college said: “We are aware of an incident involving the college 607 bus. College staff are working closely with the police to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all students. | A spokesperson for the college said: “We are aware of an incident involving the college 607 bus. College staff are working closely with the police to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all students. |
| “We ask that people do not attend the actual scene. For concerned parents, an incident centre has been established.” | “We ask that people do not attend the actual scene. For concerned parents, an incident centre has been established.” |
| Richard Tyldsley, the general manager of Bluestar Bus, said: “Reports suggest the bus left the highway and came to rest in a shallow river.” He said the bus driver was injured. | Richard Tyldsley, the general manager of Bluestar Bus, said: “Reports suggest the bus left the highway and came to rest in a shallow river.” He said the bus driver was injured. |
| Scott Agass, the father of a 17-year-old who was on the bus, said: “I think they are all out. He said he was sitting there with a blanket and a monitor on his finger. He doesn’t really know what happened or what caused it. I suppose it just happened so quick. All he saw was that it crashed and gone in the river.” | Scott Agass, the father of a 17-year-old who was on the bus, said: “I think they are all out. He said he was sitting there with a blanket and a monitor on his finger. He doesn’t really know what happened or what caused it. I suppose it just happened so quick. All he saw was that it crashed and gone in the river.” |