Girl, 14, and driver dead after coach crash on M53
A girl aged 14 and the driver of a bus died after a motorway[1] crash saw a school bus overturn. Fifty children were taken to an emergency training centre for medical assessments after the crash on the M53 in Cheshire, Merseyside Police said.
A further two patients suffered serious injuries and were rushed to hospital, said Joanne Clague, area director for North West Ambulance Service Cheshire and Merseyside. Of the 50 children taken to the emergency training centre, eight were taken to the Countess of Chester hospital and Arrowe Park hospital, reports CheshireLive.[2][3]
Thirty-nine children had later been discharged. The crash happened on the northbound carriageway near to junction five, with emergency services called to the scene just after 8am today, September 29, amid reports of an overturned coach.
The coach was travelling[6] to West Kirby all-girls grammar school and Calday Grange all-boys grammar school. Both Calday Grange and West Kirby confirmed one of its school buses was involved.
Following the collision, major incidents were declared by Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and North West Ambulance Service (NWAS). In a statement, Alder Hey said: “We can confirm we are treating a number of patients following the incident this morning. We will continue to support and liaise with families directly and are unable to share any further details of individual patients at this time.”
Earlier, NWAS said: “The trust despatched a large number of resources to the scene involving ambulances, advanced paramedics, our hazardous area response team and a HEMS (helicopter emergency medical service) doctor. So far, one female patient has been taken to the hospital, suffering major trauma-related injuries.
“There are also nearly 50 other patients being assessed at the scene. We are working closely with our incident partners to convey people away from the scene as quickly as possible.”
A spokeswoman for Merseyside Police said: “We can confirm emergency services are on the M53 in Hooton following a collision involving a bus on the motorway. Just after 8am we received a report that a bus had struck a reservation on junction five of the M53. Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service is currently ensuring the safe removal of passengers and the driver, and North West Ambulance Service are at the scene attending to anyone requiring treatment.”
In separate tweets, Calday Grange and West Kirby grammar schools posted: “We are aware of a situation involving one of our school buses on the motorway earlier today. We’re actively gathering details and assisting affected students and their families.”
Diversions were in place as the M53 was closed in both directions between junctions three and five. Anyone who witnessed the incident or has dashcam footage or CCTV should contact Merseyside Police social media desk via Twitter @MerPolCC quoting 23000944471.
Alternatively, call 101 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or via their online form at: crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/give-information-online[7].
References
- ^ motorway (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Chester (www.cheshire-live.co.uk)
- ^ reports CheshireLive. (www.cheshire-live.co.uk)
- ^ Traumatised family offer £20k reward to catch robbers who held gun to 11-year-old boy’s head (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ The cheapest iPhone 15 contract deal as pre orders open (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ travelling (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/give-information-online (crimestoppers-uk.org)