| School trip coach involved in a collision, Wheddon Cross, Somerset 17/07/2025 Posted by JayMac at 18:41, 17th July 2025 |     |
BREAKING NEWS.
A coach returning to Minehead Middle School after a day trip, with approximately 60-70 people aboard, has been involved in a road traffic collision at around 3pm on the A396 near Wheddon Cross, Somerset. Several road ambulances and an air ambulance have been at the scene. A rest centre has been set up at a nearby pub.
Ridlers, a coach hire company from Dulverton, have said one of their vehicles was involved.
The A396 is closed as I type with emergency services still at the scene.
The above details from a BBC Points West report this evening.
| Re: School trip coach involved in a collision, Wheddon Cross, Somerset 17/07/2025 Posted by grahame at 20:09, 17th July 2025 | |
Further updates from the BBC
What we know so far - published at 18:53
A bus carrying pupils from Minehead Middle School left the road at about 15:00 BST close to the village of Wheddon Cross on Exmoor on Thursday
Around 60 to 70 people were on board and police say a number of casualties have been taken to hospital
Most passengers were taken to a rest centre set up at a pub in Wheddon Cross
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander is receiving regular updates on the incident
A bus carrying pupils from Minehead Middle School left the road at about 15:00 BST close to the village of Wheddon Cross on Exmoor on Thursday
Around 60 to 70 people were on board and police say a number of casualties have been taken to hospital
Most passengers were taken to a rest centre set up at a pub in Wheddon Cross
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander is receiving regular updates on the incident
and at 20:02
Beacon Education MAT, which Minehead Middle School is part of, has released a statement following the bus crash.
“We are working closely with the emergency services and relevant authorities following an incident this afternoon to support our pupils, families, and staff at this very difficult time," it says.
“We are working closely with the emergency services and relevant authorities following an incident this afternoon to support our pupils, families, and staff at this very difficult time," it says.
We will update our school community further as soon as more information becomes available, and we kindly ask for your patience and understanding as we manage this evolving situation with care and sensitivity.
| Re: School trip coach involved in a collision, Wheddon Cross, Somerset 17/07/2025 Posted by JayMac at 21:13, 17th July 2025 | |
Avon & Somerset Police have just held a press conference.
One child has died. Several other passengers, including two children, have received serious injuries.
My thoughts and condolences go to all affected by this tragic incident.
| Re: School trip coach involved in a collision, Wheddon Cross, Somerset 17/07/2025 Posted by Timmer at 22:43, 17th July 2025 | |
Very sad news indeed. Thoughts and condolences to the family who lost a child this evening and to all those affected.
| Re: School trip coach involved in a collision, Wheddon Cross, Somerset 17/07/2025 Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 11:18, 18th July 2025 | |
From the BBC:
Tributes outside school after child dies and 21 injured in Minehead coach crash
Summary
One child has died and 21 people are injured after a coach returning from a school trip crashed in Exmoor, Somerset - here's what we know so far
The coach was carrying up to 70 people, many of them pupils from Minehead Middle School, when it flipped onto its roof and slid down a bank yesterday afternoon
The trust which runs the school says it is "devastated", while tributes and flowers are being left outside the grounds
Minehead Middle School and five other schools are shut today and the A396 at Cutcombe Hill is also closed
Prime Minister Keir Starmer calls the incident "heartbreaking" and sends his condolences to the families affected
(BBC article continues to be updated)
Summary
One child has died and 21 people are injured after a coach returning from a school trip crashed in Exmoor, Somerset - here's what we know so far
The coach was carrying up to 70 people, many of them pupils from Minehead Middle School, when it flipped onto its roof and slid down a bank yesterday afternoon
The trust which runs the school says it is "devastated", while tributes and flowers are being left outside the grounds
Minehead Middle School and five other schools are shut today and the A396 at Cutcombe Hill is also closed
Prime Minister Keir Starmer calls the incident "heartbreaking" and sends his condolences to the families affected
(BBC article continues to be updated)
CfN
| Re: School trip coach involved in a collision, Wheddon Cross, Somerset 17/07/2025 Posted by broadgage at 14:02, 18th July 2025 | |
Very sad, the first that I knew of this tragedy, was a phone call advising me that a routine hospital visit for tests was cancelled "due to an emergency"
| Re: School trip coach involved in a collision, Wheddon Cross, Somerset 17/07/2025 Posted by rogerw at 15:39, 18th July 2025 | |
Very sad news. My thoughts are with the families affected
| Re: School trip coach involved in a collision, Wheddon Cross, Somerset 17/07/2025 Posted by anthony215 at 20:30, 18th July 2025 | |
This incident has been talked about quite a bit in work with some of.colleagues guessing what could have happened.
I feel.for all thos involved the driver no matter what happens I doubt will want to get behind the wheel of a bus/coach again. Speaking as a driver myself who's been involved in an accident on a.school service a few years ago luckily no.injuries except me breaking my ribs you can't help but fight an.internal battle with yourself putting the blame on yourself even when you are clearly not to blame.
I took my daughter on a coach with her school last week to folly farm and.i made sure she was buckled up with her seat belt sadly this accident has shown it could happen anytime
| Re: School trip coach involved in a collision, Wheddon Cross, Somerset 17/07/2025 Posted by grahame at 20:47, 18th July 2025 | |
Thank you for that insight / perspective - and also for sharing your experience and not sharing your guesses.
There is a need to for the professional to look at all the possibilities but that will move on from educated guesses to things far more informed as they examine evidence, and then come to conclusions they can share to help minimise the chance of similar incidents again. It moves from "insensitive to share" on the speculation to being "vital to share" for the future and out of respect for the boy who died, the injured (some of which we know are life changing) and all other involved directly or with friends, family, emergency and medical services.
| Re: School trip coach involved in a collision, Wheddon Cross, Somerset 17/07/2025 Posted by GBM at 07:46, 19th July 2025 | |
It's the wording of the Police Investigation notice that got to me.
By implication it intimates you could be guilty, and the subsequent trail of events that will follow.
You've been involved in a road traffic incident, etc.
The Police investigation of course has to be thorough, but it takes time.
There's the Police investigation; the Company investigation (you're always guilty!); and any VOSA one.
Luckily I didn't need a VOSA one.
Not one ounce of empathy from the Company - all drivers on duty that morning popped in to ask how I was (while I was waiting for their investigation).
No management enquiry until 4 hours later, and that was only a passing remark/perfunctory.
Even though the incident was on hospital property, I still had to report it to the Police.
This I did very shortly after (and obtained a reference number) whilst waiting for a manager to become free for an investigation.
A week later I had a very heavy Police letter advising they'd become aware of a road traffic incident and I need to report it.
A curt reply followed with the incident reference number.
Three weeks later the Police replied that no further action would be taken - this was at the bottom of page two of a very long and heavy document.
Oddly, after the company investigation nothing more was said, either verbally or written. I suspect there was something wrong with the way the initial investigation was done, but that's supposition.
I returned to work the following day to ensure I (mentally) could drive again, and worked for a month, then retired.
It weighed heavily on me.
| Re: School trip coach involved in a collision, Wheddon Cross, Somerset 17/07/2025 Posted by grahame at 08:29, 19th July 2025 | |
It's the wording ...
It weighed heavily on me.
It weighed heavily on me.
Please forgive the big [snip] ... which detail important issues
Support of all of those involved in any incident fails all too often - almost systemic. People are deeply, deeply effected in addition to the headliners. Facts need to be checked and questions asked if anything is to be learned, and (I am not a professional) that's a tough one. How do you do that without causing additional and perhaps exacerbated long term stress on someone who, it will (more likely than not) turn out, might have been at the wrong place at the wrong time.
I understand the conundrum; I have been on the periphery of incidents of a very different type, and I have regretted the lack of appropriate feedback to me to help with closure and moving forward. Such lacks of support and closure can indeed and often will be turning points.
| Re: School trip coach involved in a collision, Wheddon Cross, Somerset 17/07/2025 Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 12:02, 19th July 2025 | |
From the BBC:
More than £12k raised for school coach crash victims
A fundraiser launched to support the families affected by a coach crash which killed a 10-year-old boy has raised more than £12,000 in 24 hours.
The community in Minehead, Somerset, has been left devastated by the crash which happened on the way back from a school trip to Exmoor Zoo on Thursday. Six children remain in hospital - two at Bristol Children's Hospital and four in Somerset. Three adults are also being treated in hospital.
Bobbie Rammond, a resident and small business owner in west Somerset, launched the fundraiser on Friday. In a statement, Mr Rammond said: "This tragedy has shaken the local community, and like many others, I felt a strong desire to do what I could to help."
Avon and Somerset Police declared a major incident after the single-vehicle collision at Cutcombe Hill near Wheddon Cross at about 15:00 BST on Thursday.
The coach, which was carrying about 70 people, flipped on to its roof and slid down a bank. Many of those on board were pupils from Minehead Middle School.
Mr Rammond said the community fund would help support those directly affected by the crash. "I understand this is a sensitive time, and while the specific use of the fund will be shaped by the needs of those involved, my promise is to ensure it reaches the people who need it most," Mr Rammond said. "As a father of two young children myself, I can only begin to imagine the pain and heartbreak that so many are experiencing right now," he added.
Mr Rammond said the money would be used to provide urgent help and support for those injured, hospitalised and directly impacted by the "heartbreaking" crash. He said it would also help those who needed emotional and psychological help, even if they were not physically harmed in the incident.
A fundraiser launched to support the families affected by a coach crash which killed a 10-year-old boy has raised more than £12,000 in 24 hours.
The community in Minehead, Somerset, has been left devastated by the crash which happened on the way back from a school trip to Exmoor Zoo on Thursday. Six children remain in hospital - two at Bristol Children's Hospital and four in Somerset. Three adults are also being treated in hospital.
Bobbie Rammond, a resident and small business owner in west Somerset, launched the fundraiser on Friday. In a statement, Mr Rammond said: "This tragedy has shaken the local community, and like many others, I felt a strong desire to do what I could to help."
Avon and Somerset Police declared a major incident after the single-vehicle collision at Cutcombe Hill near Wheddon Cross at about 15:00 BST on Thursday.
The coach, which was carrying about 70 people, flipped on to its roof and slid down a bank. Many of those on board were pupils from Minehead Middle School.
Mr Rammond said the community fund would help support those directly affected by the crash. "I understand this is a sensitive time, and while the specific use of the fund will be shaped by the needs of those involved, my promise is to ensure it reaches the people who need it most," Mr Rammond said. "As a father of two young children myself, I can only begin to imagine the pain and heartbreak that so many are experiencing right now," he added.
Mr Rammond said the money would be used to provide urgent help and support for those injured, hospitalised and directly impacted by the "heartbreaking" crash. He said it would also help those who needed emotional and psychological help, even if they were not physically harmed in the incident.
