A tragic accident occurred in Somerset on Thursday afternoon when a school coach carrying children and staff from an end-of-term trip overturned and slid 20 feet down a bank.
The vehicle, carrying between 60 and 70 people from Minehead Middle School, was travelling on the A396 at Cutcombe Hill when it left the road and flipped onto its roof.
Avon and Somerset Police confirmed that one child died in the crash, and 21 others were injured. Two children were airlifted to hospital with serious injuries, while others sustained minor injuries or were physically unharmed and taken to a rest centre.
Speaking from Bridgwater Police Centre, Chief Superintendent Mark Edgington said, “A number of other people have presented or been taken to hospital, some with serious injuries.” He added that efforts were ongoing to support the passengers and return them safely to Minehead.
An investigation into the cause of the crash is underway.
In response to the tragedy, Prime Minster Sir Keir Starmer expressed his condolences on social media, writing, “There are no adequate words to acknowledge the death of a child.”
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