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School bus driver dies at wheel Bus crash teenagers return home
(about 22 hours later)
The driver of a coach carrying Liverpool schoolchildren home from a skiing trip has suffered a fatal heart attack at the wheel. A group of Liverpool schoolchildren whose coach driver suffered a fatal heart attack at the wheel while driving in Germany have returned home.
The 34-strong party from West Derby School were returning through Germany from a skiing trip in Austria when the coach spun out of control. The 34-strong party from West Derby School were returning from a skiing trip in Austria late on Tuesday when the coach spun out of control.
It ploughed into the central reservation of a motorway in Karlsruhe. No-one else was injured and the staff and pupils, aged 14 to 18, stayed in a Red Cross centre that night.
No-one else was injured and the staff and pupils stayed overnight in a nearby Red Cross centre. The group travelled back to their school by coach, arriving at 0400 GMT.
Headteacher Margaret Rannard said: "We are really pleased that the boys are back home safe and well in time to spend Christmas with their families.
"They will be offered support and counselling if they need it."
The vehicle was on hire from Newcastle-based Keiths Coaches.The vehicle was on hire from Newcastle-based Keiths Coaches.
It is understood the driver had worked for them for many years and was very experienced.It is understood the driver had worked for them for many years and was very experienced.
It is astonishing and miraculous that they were not injured Headteacher Margaret Rannard
Keith Grimes, managing director of the coach company, said: "At this time my main concern is with the safe return of the children to school that are currently on route to Calais with a fellow coach operator from Germany."
He thanked German and Northumbria Police for their help and said the Red Cross had provided food, drinks and bedding for the children.
Headteacher Margaret Rannard said all parents have been informed and a replacement coach was bringing the children home.
"It is astonishing and miraculous that they were not injured. My thoughts go out to the family of the driver.
"He was one of two drivers that took the students around all week and they got to know him.
"It's terribly, terribly sad," she said.
The pupils, aged between 14 and 18, are due back in the country on Thursday morning.