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| Driver killed after coach carrying British schoolchildren crashes in Belgium | Driver killed after coach carrying British schoolchildren crashes in Belgium |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A coach driver from Northern Ireland has been killed and his assistant seriously injured after the vehicle carrying pupils and staff from Brentwood school in Essex crashed in Belgium. | A coach driver from Northern Ireland has been killed and his assistant seriously injured after the vehicle carrying pupils and staff from Brentwood school in Essex crashed in Belgium. |
| One child is in intensive care in hospital after suffering a head injury, a spokesman for the school said. | One child is in intensive care in hospital after suffering a head injury, a spokesman for the school said. |
| The coach, which was carrying 34 schoolchildren and their teachers on a language trip, overturned on the A18/E40 motorway that runs to the Channel ferry ports and Channel tunnel, trapping the passengers for a short period. | The coach, which was carrying 34 schoolchildren and their teachers on a language trip, overturned on the A18/E40 motorway that runs to the Channel ferry ports and Channel tunnel, trapping the passengers for a short period. |
| It is understood that all passengers have now been rescued, and that three pupils and two teachers were taken hospital. Those who escaped injury were taken to a nearby swimming pool. | It is understood that all passengers have now been rescued, and that three pupils and two teachers were taken hospital. Those who escaped injury were taken to a nearby swimming pool. |
| The children are believed to be year seven and eight pupils. They were setting out on a four-day trip and had left the school at 4am on Sunday. | The children are believed to be year seven and eight pupils. They were setting out on a four-day trip and had left the school at 4am on Sunday. |
| The accident happened near the town of Middelkerke in West Flanders at 9.45am local time (8.45am BST). A major rescue operation was mounted and the road closed. Pictures showed the bus lying on its side. | |
| Unconfirmed eyewitness reports suggest the bus crashed into the central reservation and then into a pillar of a bridge. | Unconfirmed eyewitness reports suggest the bus crashed into the central reservation and then into a pillar of a bridge. |
| The vehicle belonged to Richmond Coaches, based in Lisburn, County Antrim. A man who answered the firm’s out-of-hours line described the crash as an “awful tragedy”, according to the Daily Mirror. “I can confirm that it was one of our coaches. We are working with the authorities,” he said. “Obviously it is an awful time for both families and the coach firm staff.” | The vehicle belonged to Richmond Coaches, based in Lisburn, County Antrim. A man who answered the firm’s out-of-hours line described the crash as an “awful tragedy”, according to the Daily Mirror. “I can confirm that it was one of our coaches. We are working with the authorities,” he said. “Obviously it is an awful time for both families and the coach firm staff.” |
| The tour was organised by the NST group, a company that organises school trips. | The tour was organised by the NST group, a company that organises school trips. |
| A spokesman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said it was aware of the crash and was working with the Belgian authorities to establish further details. | A spokesman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said it was aware of the crash and was working with the Belgian authorities to establish further details. |