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| Belgium bus crash: One person killed on bus carrying 34 British children that crashed on Belgian motorway | Belgium bus crash: One person killed on bus carrying 34 British children that crashed on Belgian motorway |
| (6 months later) | |
| A bus carrying 34 British children has overturned and crashed on a motorway in Belgium leaving one adult dead and a child in intensive care. | A bus carrying 34 British children has overturned and crashed on a motorway in Belgium leaving one adult dead and a child in intensive care. |
| Six adults and two drivers were with the children on the bus, which was seen lying on its side under a bridge. | Six adults and two drivers were with the children on the bus, which was seen lying on its side under a bridge. |
| The coach driver was killed and his assistant seriously injured after the coach carrying pupils, aged between 11 and 13, and staff from Brentwood School in Essex crashed. | The coach driver was killed and his assistant seriously injured after the coach carrying pupils, aged between 11 and 13, and staff from Brentwood School in Essex crashed. |
| The school said in a statement that one child is in intensive care after suffering a head injury. | The school said in a statement that one child is in intensive care after suffering a head injury. |
| The bus crashed on the E40 motorway near Middelkerke, close to West Flanders on Sunday morning, after the driver lost control of the vehicle, which then struck a pillar of a bridge before shooting off the road. | The bus crashed on the E40 motorway near Middelkerke, close to West Flanders on Sunday morning, after the driver lost control of the vehicle, which then struck a pillar of a bridge before shooting off the road. |
| Local reports suggested several people were still inside the vehicle as emergency services reached the crash site. | Local reports suggested several people were still inside the vehicle as emergency services reached the crash site. |
| "One driver has been killed, the other is seriously injured in the accident. Some of the children with light injuries have been taken to local medical centre," Janna Rommel-Opstaele, the mayor of the nearby coastal town of Middelkerke, told Reuters earlier today, but it later emerged one child had been seriously injured. | "One driver has been killed, the other is seriously injured in the accident. Some of the children with light injuries have been taken to local medical centre," Janna Rommel-Opstaele, the mayor of the nearby coastal town of Middelkerke, told Reuters earlier today, but it later emerged one child had been seriously injured. |
| Both drivers are believed to be from Northern Ireland. | Both drivers are believed to be from Northern Ireland. |
| Oli Adams, a spokesman for Brentwood school, said all the children had walked off the bus and appeared to have suffered only minor injuries. | |
| However it then became clear that one pupil, who is in first or second year, had been seriously hurt. | However it then became clear that one pupil, who is in first or second year, had been seriously hurt. |
| “It seems as though they [the pupil] had a bleed on the brain and they are in intensive care being observed 24 hours,” Mr Adams said. | “It seems as though they [the pupil] had a bleed on the brain and they are in intensive care being observed 24 hours,” Mr Adams said. |
| “Several other pupils were taken to hospital with other superficial injuries. One teacher had a broken arm and one a broken collar bone.” | “Several other pupils were taken to hospital with other superficial injuries. One teacher had a broken arm and one a broken collar bone.” |
| There were conflicting reports about who had been killed. But Mr Adams said the school’s understanding was that the driver had been killed and his assistant had been seriously injured. | There were conflicting reports about who had been killed. But Mr Adams said the school’s understanding was that the driver had been killed and his assistant had been seriously injured. |
| The school briefed parents at 12pm on Sunday. Some parents were already on their way to Belgium on the same afternoon, including the parents of the seriously injured child. | The school briefed parents at 12pm on Sunday. Some parents were already on their way to Belgium on the same afternoon, including the parents of the seriously injured child. |
| “According to the headmaster, the parents have been fantastic and very supportive, although they are obviously clearly very worried,” Mr Adams said. “Our thoughts are with them all.” | “According to the headmaster, the parents have been fantastic and very supportive, although they are obviously clearly very worried,” Mr Adams said. “Our thoughts are with them all.” |
| The children were on their way to Cologne for a trip to learn about German language and culture. | |
| The school has sent several staff, including a modern language teacher, to Belgium to help co-ordinate with the local authorities and assist parents there. | The school has sent several staff, including a modern language teacher, to Belgium to help co-ordinate with the local authorities and assist parents there. |
| A spokesperson for British bus company Richmond Coaches said: “I can confirm it is one of our vehicles. We are working with all the authorities and our thoughts are with anybody who was involved,” he added. | A spokesperson for British bus company Richmond Coaches said: “I can confirm it is one of our vehicles. We are working with all the authorities and our thoughts are with anybody who was involved,” he added. |
| A spokeswoman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: “We are aware of reports of a bus crash in Belgium involving British nationals. We are working with the Belgian authorities to establish details of the incident.” | A spokeswoman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: “We are aware of reports of a bus crash in Belgium involving British nationals. We are working with the Belgian authorities to establish details of the incident.” |