Emergency crews rushed to the scene in Eastleigh, Hampshire where a bus carrying children crashed into a river injuring several people

More than a dozen children were injured after a double decker bus plunged into a river in a terrifying crash.

Five people were taken to hospital by ambulance – including the driver – and people were asked to avoid the area after the sixth form college bus left the road near Eastleigh in Hampshire. Around 14 children, with less serious injuries, were treated at the scene.

Inspector Andy Tester, of Hampshire Constabulary, said: “It must have been terrifying and my thoughts are very much with what the children and the driver on the bus, who must have had a terrifying experience.”

Ryan Fahey

Witness saw bent traffic lights and cables hanging from telegraph pole

A local authority worker has spoken of what he saw after the crash.

Paul Crowther, who was strimming grass verges at the time, said: “I had all my safety gear on and couldn’t hear much. [The] bus must have gone past me, but I didn’t notice at the time — I’m only just starting to realise now what could have happened.

“[I] looked up and saw cables hanging down from a telegraph pole. A bit further down the road, I saw a set of pedestrian traffic lights that had been hit and were bent in half.

“I helped turn a few vehicles around, but by then the police had arrived and were taking control of the scene. I decided it was best to leave the area.

“I think it probably happened just before 10am. If it had been an hour earlier, it could have been far worse — there are a few schools nearby, including primary schools.”

Ryan Fahey

Woman looked out of window to see bus ‘careening into the river’

Kelly West, who was working from home at the time of the crash, said she looked out of the window to see the bus “come careening into the river”.

“We ran outside, we ran around the front of the bus, spoke to the driver,” she says.

She was told the “brakes were not working” and that the “accelerator jammed” before the crash. The driver told her he crashed while trying to avoid cars.


A witness said the driver told her the “accelerator jammed’ (
Image:
Ollie Thompson/Solent News)

Ryan Fahey

Emergency services arrived to find people trapped on board

Hampshire Constabulary Inspector Andy Tester said “specialist resources” were used to extract people from the bus.

He said: “There were a large number of specialist resources helping to get people out of the bus.

“Some people had got themselves out of the bus, and it was obviously important to us to triage the injured people, to assess the people who were still stuck in the bus, and to make sure we had accounted for everyone.”


Fourteen people were treated at the scene (
Image:
PA)

Ryan Fahey

Children must have been ‘terrified’, police say

Inspector Andy Tester, of Hampshire Constabulary, said a total of 20 people were onboard the bus, 19 of which were passengers.

He said: “It must have been terrifying and my thoughts are very much with what the children and the driver on the bus, who must have had a terrifying experience.”

Ryan Fahey

Two of the injured are in ‘serious but not life-threatening’ condition

Hampshire Constabulary has provided an update on the condition of the injured individuals.

Five people, including the bus driver, were taken to hospital for treatment with two of them in “serious but not life-threatening” condition, according to the force.


Five people were taken to hospital, including the bus driver (
Image:
PA)

Ryan Fahey

Bus still submerged in river

Images that have emerged from the crash site show how the double decker is still submerged in the waters of River Itchen.


The double decker was carrying sixth-form students (
Image:
PA) 

Ryan Fahey

Passengers lived in local area

The children on board the bus reportedly lived in the local area, according to reports.

The Daily Echo reports that the bus was carrying kids from Wickham, Swanmore and Bishop’s Waltham.


The scene on Bishopstoke Road (
Image:
PA)

Ryan Fahey

Parent says daughter is ‘banged up’ and ‘bruised’

Another woman at the scene said she has had contact with her daughter, who told her she was “banged up” after the crash in Eastleigh today.

Speaking to the BBC, she said: “She’s a bit banged up, bruises, she said. She said she’s okay but I think she’s in shock for sure. That’s all we know at the moment. I mean we’re just waiting to see her at the moment.”


Officers at the scene in Eastleigh, Hampshire (
Image:
PA)

Ryan Fahey

Mum left ‘nervous, panicking’ not knowing if her daughter is okay

A mother has spoken of her fear while waiting for news of her daughter, who was one of the passengers on the bus when it crashed today.

The woman, who has not been identified, told the BBC: “I ran over trying to get to her, but they [emergency services] would not let me pass. So I had to turn around and come here and wait.

“So, yeah I’m nervous, panicking because I don’t know much. I haven’t seen her. ”

Ryan Fahey

Doctor relieved that his son wasn’t ‘seriously hurt’

Dr David Pogson, whose son was on board, has told the BBC: “I got a message on the family chat at work about the accident, which sounded quite serious.

“Thankfully it doesn’t sound that he is seriously hurt, his friends are all fine.

“I have seen some ambulances going away though and I understand some children have been injured.”

Kelly-Ann Kiernan

Crying girl called mum from onboard bus

A woman has said her daughter was onboard the stricken bus, called to tell her they had been in a crash and were in the river.

The mum named Annabel, who has yet to be reunited with her child, told the BBC her girl is a bit “banged up, shocked and has some cuts and bruises”.

Asked how she was feeling, Annabel, said: “I’m nervous, I felt panicked, I rushed straight here as quick as I could but I couldn’t get to my daughter.

“I’m panicking until I get to see her.”


Children have blankets round their shoulders (
Image:
Dean Owens/Solent News)

Kelly-Ann Kiernan

Images show youngsters after crash

Teenagers can be seen sitting on the grass opposite the site of the bus crash, as emergency crews get to work.

The blue vehicle, which has left the road, can be seen stopped in a river as firefighters and ambulance crews work nearby.

Police say the road will be closed for hours but all youngsters have been accounted for.


The aftermath of the crash (
Image:
Dean Owens/Solent News)

Kelly-Ann Kiernan

Families wait for news

Some families of those on board the bus have gathered at the Eastleigh Rugby Club Hub awaiting more information from police.

Officers have said all students who were on board have been accounted for, and investigations are ongoing.

Kelly-Ann Kiernan

Road will be closed for hours

A police spokesman said: “It is anticipated the road may be closed for up to 12 hours for investigation and recovery work.”

Kelly-Ann Kiernan

Everyone on bus accounted for

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary has confirmed everyone on the bus had been accounted for and those injured are being treated by the ambulance service.

The force urged people to not attend the actual scene.

Kelly-Ann Kiernan

Large crane arrived

A large crane to help lift the bus from the river has arrived on site in Eastleigh, as police keep the road closed.

The air ambulance and some of the land ambulances have left the scene as the recovery stage begins.


(
Image:
UKNIP)

Kelly-Ann Kiernan

Bus driver and two children injured

Bus company Bluestar has confirmed their driver and two passengers were those more seriously injured.

Bluestar general manager Richard Tyldsley said: “One of our buses, carrying students to Barton Peveril College, was involved in an incident earlier this morning in Bishopstoke Road, Eastleigh. Reports suggest the bus left the highway and came to rest in a shallow river.

“There were 19 passengers on-board at the time. Our driver and at least two of the passengers have confirmed injuries, and we are awaiting further updates on the status of others on-board.

“We do not currently have full details of their injuries and are following their progress closely.

“Our thoughts are with everybody involved, and we wish those who were injured a full and speedy recovery.

“At this time, we do not know the circumstances behind this incident and are carrying out an immediate investigation. We are also assisting the police as they carry out their own enquiries.”

Kelly-Ann Kiernan

Photos show the stricken bus


The bus is seen in the river (
Image:
UKNIP)

Kelly-Ann Kiernan

Fire crews at the scene

A Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: “We are on scene of an RTC involving one double decker bus that went off the road in Bishopstoke, Eastleigh.

“Fire crews from Eastleigh, St Mary’s, Redbridge, Hightown and Portchester are in attendance alongside emergency service colleagues.

“People are asked to avoid the area to help emergency services deal with this incident.”

Kelly-Ann Kiernan

Parent says “teen son ok”

 
One worried parent whose 17-year-old son was on board the 607 bus said, he is ok.
 

 

 

 
Speaking to the Daily Echo, Scott Agass said: “We are just waiting for our son who was onboard. They are not in the bus at the moment, I think they are all out.

“He said he was sitting there with a blanket and a monitor on his finger. He doesn’t really know what happened or what caused it.

“I suppose it just happened so quick. All he saw was that it crashed and gone in the river.”

Kelly-Ann Kiernan

14 walking wounded treated at scene

Three people have been taking to hospital and 14 more, with less serious injuries have been treated at the scene.

A Sourth Central Ambulance spokesman: “We have sent multiple units to the incident including five ambulances, two helicopters, and specialist response units.

“We’re continuing to support and assess patients on scene. All patients have been removed from the bus.

“Three high priority patients are being taken to hospital. Around 14 with less serious injuries are being treated on scene.”

Kelly-Ann Kiernan

Sixth form students injured

The bus was carrying sixth-form students from Barton Peveril Sixth Form College.

A spokesman said: “College staff are working closely with the police to ensure the safety and well-being of all students.

“We ask that people do not attend the actual scene. For concerned parents, an Incident Centre has been established at The Hub at Bishopstoke.

“An officer and college staff will be available at the Hub to provide updates and address any questions you may have.”

Kelly-Ann Kiernan

Emergency crews at the scene

Three patients have been taken to hospital, South Central Ambulance Service said.

A spokeswoman said: “We have sent multiple units to the incident including five ambulances, two helicopters, and specialist response units.

“We’re continuing to support and assess patients on scene. All patients have been removed from the bus. Three high priority patients are being taken to hospital. Around 14 with less serious injuries are being treated on scene.”