Belgium bus crash: British school children on coach

A child is in intensive care in hospital after suffering a head injury when a coach carrying schoolchildren and teachers crashed in Belgium, Brentwood School in Essex said in a statement.

Initial photos from the scene showed children were still trapped in the vehicle, which was lying on its side on the E40 motorway that runs to the Channel ferry ports and Channel Tunnel, public radio channel RTBF said.

A local news outlet reported that a British bus with 34 children and eight adults on board crashed against a bridge pier .

“One of the two bus drivers did not survive the hit and the other driver was an hour wedged and is seriously injured. The passengers came from minor injuries .

“The emergency services were there and medical intervention plan was announced. In a collision, the bus driver lost control of the steering wheel and he ended up against a bridge pier.

They reported that there were 34 children, six adult chaperones and two drivers on board.

All passengers have been released from the bus with minor injuries.

Northern Ireland-based Richmond Coaches have confirmed one of their coaches was involved in an accident.

A statement from Brentwood School said; “A coach travelling to Cologne with thirty four first and second year pupils and six teachers from the School was involved in a collision with a bridge near Ostend in Belgium.”

“All pupils walked off the coach and several pupils and teachers have been taken to local hospitals. One pupil is in intensive care receiving treatment for a head injury. We have informed all the parents of the thirty four pupils and the Headmaster, Ian Davies, is holding a briefing for them at the School this morning.

“We have been informed that the driver was killed in the collision and his assistant has been severely injured. Our thoughts are clearly with his family and all the families of the pupils and teachers involved. Two senior members of staff have travelled to Belgium this morning, and as soon as we have more information we will inform everyone involved.”