M53 crash: Alder Hey hospital declares major incident after coach full of schoolchildren overturns in Wirral
One person was seriously injured and “a number of patients” are also being treated in hospital after a school bus overturned[1] on the motorway in Wirral, Merseyside[2].
Emergency services were called shortly after 8am on Friday to reports of a crash on the northbound M53 near to junction five at Hooton, Cheshire.
One “female patient” is in hospital suffering major trauma-related injuries, the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) said, while a further 50 people were “assessed” at the scene.
Both Alder Hey children’s hospital, in West Kirby, and Arrowe Park hospital, in Birkenhead, have declared major incidents.
It is thought the bus was en route to West Kirby all-girls grammar school and Calday Grange all-boys grammar school, also in West Kirby, Merseyside.
NWAS posted on X, formerly known as Twitter: “North West Ambulance Service has declared a major incident following a road traffic collision between a coach and a car on the M53 northbound at approximately 8.30am this morning.
“The trust dispatched a large number of resources to the scene, including ambulances, advanced paramedics, our Hazardous Area Response Team and a Hems 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.”
Emergency services on the scene of the crash on the M53 motorway (Photo: Peter Byrne/PA Wire)
Alder Hey Children’s Hospital said it was treating “a number of patients” following the school bus crash.
A statement on its website read: “We can confirm that 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.”
In a tweet, Calday Grange Grammar School in West Kirby, Merseyside, 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.”
West Kirby Grammar School posted: “We are aware of the situation involving one of our school buses on the motorway earlier today.
“We’re actively gathering details and assisting affected students and their families. Support is available. If you need to talk or seek guidance, please contact the school.”
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Sherin Akhtar, a local Labour councillor, told The Guardian that she drove past the crash scene with her 13-year-old daughter and saw “pupils on the floor”.
She said: “We recognised the coach and we knew which students were in there and we know that there were students that my son knows because he goes to the same grammar school. He was in the coach behind and we were in front.
“There were clearly casualties outside, there were pupils on the floor.”
The coach was one of several daily buses that take pupils from Chester to Calday Grange and West Kirby grammar schools, Ms Akhtar added.
Diversions are in place as the M53 is closed in both directions between junctions three and five.
National Highways North West said: “The incident occurred shortly after 8am this morning. All emergency services are on scene along with North West Air Ambulance Services.
“National Highways traffic officers are on scene providing assistance with traffic management.”
A spokeswoman for Merseyside Police[3] said: “Please note this incident is ongoing and we are urging people to refrain from speculating or publishing any sensitive information that could be distressing online or via social media platforms.”
Anyone who witnessed the incident or has dashcam footage or CCTV should contact Merseyside Police social media desk via Twitter/X @MerPolCC quoting 23000944471.
Alternatively, call 101 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
This is a breaking news story and is being updated.
References
- ^ school bus overturned (inews.co.uk)
- ^ Merseyside (inews.co.uk)
- ^ Merseyside Police (inews.co.uk)