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Child dies after school coach overturns in Somerset Child dies after school coach overturns in Somerset
(32 minutes later)
People taken to hospital after collision on A396, police say, and firefighters had to free some passengers Twenty-one people taken to hospital after collision on A396 and firefighters had to free some passengers
A child was killed when a coach carrying pupils returning from a day trip to a zoo flipped on to its roof and plunged down an embankment. A child was killed when a coach carrying pupils returning from an end of term day trip to a zoo flipped on to its roof and plunged down an embankment in Somerset.
Twenty-one people were taken to hospital by vehicles and a helicopter, some with serious injuries. Others were treated at the scene for minor injuries. Twenty-one passengers were taken to hospital by vehicles and a helicopter, some with serious injuries. Others were treated at the scene.
The coach overturned on its roof and slid 6 metres (20ft) down an embankment. An off-duty firefighter was following the coach and began helping the children and adults from the vehicle. The coach overturned on its roof and slid 6 metres (20ft) down an embankment. An off-duty firefighter was following the coach and began helping the children and adults from the vehicle. Some of the passengers were trapped in the coach and had to be freed by firefighters.
Dozens of emergency crews responded after the incident on Thursday afternoon and firefighters had to free some of the passengers. Many of the children who did not need hospital treatment spent around five hours at a makeshift rest centre before being ferried back to Minehead middle school where parents gathered to pick them up.
A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset police said: “A major incident has been declared as emergency services work together to respond to a collision involving a coach on the A396 this afternoon. Ch Supt Mark Edgington of Avon and Somerset police said: “Shortly before 3pm this afternoon, emergency services were called to a collision involving a coach on the A396 at Cutcombe Hill, in Exmoor.
“The coach was carrying approximately 60-70 people and was heading to Minehead middle school at the time. “Approximately 60 to 70 people were believed to be onboard. A major incident was declared, with police, fire and ambulance services dispatching crews to the scene.
“The large majority of passengers were taken to a rest centre in Wheddon Cross and we are working with the school to help them return at the earliest opportunity. “A number of other people have presented or been taken to hospital, some of them with serious injuries. This includes two children who were taken to hospital by air ambulance. An investigation into the cause of the incident will be carried out.”
“Officers are at the school to help with that process, and we would ask any parents to please head there. He asked people not to speculate on the cause of the crash, saying it would add to the distress of “the families, staff and the driver”.
“The road remains closed. We’d please ask people avoid the area so emergency services’ response to this incident is not impacted.” Wayne Darch, deputy director of operations at South Western ambulance service, said it sent 46 resources to the scene. He said the child, who has not been named, died at the scene.
The children were returning from a trip to Exmoor zoo. Gavin Ellis, the chief fire officer for Devon and Somerset fire and rescue service, said it sent 60 personnel. “Our crews carried out a number of extrications and rescues in extremely difficult circumstances,” he said.
The incident happened on the A396 Cutcombe Hill road, between Wheddon Cross and Timberscombe. The area the crash happened in is heavily wooded and the embankment the coach went down steep.
Ellis said: “This was a very complex and technically difficult operation. I’m grateful to the off-duty firefighter who was travelling behind the coach at the point of the crash who was able to start making immediate effect to release those casualties from the bus.”
The coach company Ridlers said one of its 70-seat vehicles was involved.The coach company Ridlers said one of its 70-seat vehicles was involved.
Peter Prior-Sankey, the director of Ridlers, said: “We were made aware of an incident involving one of our 70-seater vehicles at about 3.15pm this afternoon, understood to have taken place as a group of school pupils were returning from a day trip. Peter Prior-Sankey, the director of Ridlers, said: “We were made aware of an incident involving one of our 70-seater vehicles at about 3.15pm this afternoon.
“We have since been liaising with both the school and the emergency services while we try to understand the extent of the incident.
“Everyone within the Ridlers team is of course deeply concerned and anxious to find out more detail, particularly concerning the welfare of the driver and passengers.
“While we wait for further information from police and other emergency teams, our hearts of course go out to the school pupils and to our driver.
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“We will be doing everything possible to understand what has happened.” “While we wait for further information from police and other emergency teams, our hearts of course go out to the school pupils and to our driver. We will be doing everything possible to understand what has happened.”
Roger Weather, a farmer in Wheddon Cross, told how he helped direct the families of those on board to a makeshift “care centre” set up by emergency services teams at the village pub, The Rest and Be Thankful Inn.Roger Weather, a farmer in Wheddon Cross, told how he helped direct the families of those on board to a makeshift “care centre” set up by emergency services teams at the village pub, The Rest and Be Thankful Inn.
Weather said: “These poor parents were very anxious and desperately trying to find out where their children had been taken. Some parents went there to try to find their children. Weather said: “The poor parents were very anxious and desperately trying to find out where their children had been taken.
“It’s very rural here, so places are hard to find. I did what I could to direct people to where they needed to be.“It’s very rural here, so places are hard to find. I did what I could to direct people to where they needed to be.
“As a village, you just don’t expect this kind of thing to happen on your doorstep. You hear about these things happening in the media, but always somewhere else. “Today it happened here. Everyone in the village in a state of complete and utter shock.““As a village, you just don’t expect this kind of thing to happen on your doorstep. You hear about these things happening in the media, but always somewhere else. “Today it happened here. Everyone in the village in a state of complete and utter shock.“
There was a police presence outside Minehead middle school. Parents of children on the bus arrived and were ushered in by police. Heidi Alexander, the transport secretary, said: “My thoughts are with all those involved. I am receiving regular updates on the situation.”
Heidi Alexander, the transport secretary, said: “I’m aware of the serious incident involving a bus near Minehead, Somerset. My thoughts are with all those involved. The emergency services are on scene, and I am receiving regular updates on the situation.”
The MP for Tiverton and Minehead, Rachel Gilmour, said: “I have heard news about a distressing road traffic incident around Wheddon Cross this afternoon. Emergency services are present, so please give them space to work. My thoughts are with all involved in the incident. I’d advise everyone travelling across Exmoor this afternoon or evening to check their route before beginning their journey.”