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Belgium coach crash: Brentwood School pupils come home | Belgium coach crash: Brentwood School pupils come home |
(35 minutes later) | |
Schoolchildren involved in a coach crash in Belgium in which a driver died have returned to Essex. | Schoolchildren involved in a coach crash in Belgium in which a driver died have returned to Essex. |
James "Geordie" Chance, from Northern Ireland, was killed when the bus carrying 34 Brentwood School pupils crashed on a motorway on Sunday. | James "Geordie" Chance, from Northern Ireland, was killed when the bus carrying 34 Brentwood School pupils crashed on a motorway on Sunday. |
Two boys remain in hospital in Belgium. One of them, aged 13, is in intensive care with a head injury. | Two boys remain in hospital in Belgium. One of them, aged 13, is in intensive care with a head injury. |
Several pupils travelled back to the UK late on Sunday night on a coach arranged by the school. | Several pupils travelled back to the UK late on Sunday night on a coach arranged by the school. |
"The coach returning the remaining pupils and staff has just arrived at school safely," tweeted Brentwood School head Ian Davies. | "The coach returning the remaining pupils and staff has just arrived at school safely," tweeted Brentwood School head Ian Davies. |
"Thoughts and prayers still with two pupils in hospital," he added. | "Thoughts and prayers still with two pupils in hospital," he added. |
The Belgian authorities are working to establish details of the accident, which happened on the A18 (E40) at Middelkerke, West Flanders. Eyewitnesses said the bus crashed into a motorway bridge pillar. | The Belgian authorities are working to establish details of the accident, which happened on the A18 (E40) at Middelkerke, West Flanders. Eyewitnesses said the bus crashed into a motorway bridge pillar. |
A spokesman for Richmond Coaches, the bus operator, said the company was "devastated" to hear of the death of Mr Chance, who was in his 50s. | |
From the scene | |
BBC Essex reporter Richard Smith | |
Belgian Police told me the crash happened between the junctions for the small seaside town of Middelkerke. | |
As I used the motorway, I realised it would be possible to drive past without realising what had happened less than 24 hours ago. | |
Earlier on, I stood on top of the bridge, as the sun came up. | |
There was no obvious sign of the collision below. No signs, no roadworks. | |
The modern-looking Sint Augustinus hospital in Vuerne where a 13-year-old boy is in intensive care is a short distance from the busy E40 motorway. | |
I understand the pupil's parents are at his bedside. | |
One of the injured boys, 12, is being treated for a broken leg at a hospital in Bruges. | One of the injured boys, 12, is being treated for a broken leg at a hospital in Bruges. |
Other students, a number of whom were treated for cuts, bruising and swelling, were picked up by their parents who travelled to Belgium. | Other students, a number of whom were treated for cuts, bruising and swelling, were picked up by their parents who travelled to Belgium. |
The teacher in charge of the trip was taken to hospital with a broken collarbone. | |
Mr Chance, a grandfather of five, was sitting in the coach's courier seat when the vehicle crashed at 09:45 local time (08:45 BST), Richmond Coaches confirmed. | |
The bus's driver, Stephen Cardwell, who is also from Northern Ireland, is said to be in a stable condition in hospital. | |
Brendan McKenna, director of Richmond Coaches, said: "Our thoughts and prayers are with all the families that have been affected by this tragic accident." |