Emergency services are this afternoon in attendance at the scene of a collision between a coach carrying school children and a bus shelter.
The coach, operated by Seaview Services, Isle of Wight, was travelling from Queensgate Primary School along Victoria Grove, East Cowes when the vehicle smashed into the newly-painted bus shelter.
‘The Gazette’ has learnt that the coach suddenly rolled backwards, colliding with the bus shelter and wedging itself against the row of trees.
In a Gazette exclusive, 9-year-old Kacey Knight described the terrifying incident. She said: “I was sat near the middle of the coach and it started to roll backwards. Everyone started to sceam. There was a big bang and the coach smashed into the trees. I saw one of my friends heads rocking around. She was taken to hospital.
Kacey described the driver as collapsing over the wheel prior to the coach rolling backwards.
Kacey’s friend, an 8-year-old girl, has been taken to St Mary’s Hospital with a suspected neck injury, while a number of other children have been treated at the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Department for a range of minor injuries.
The 55-year-old driver of the coach, who works part-time for the company, has also been taken to hospital for further treatment, however his condition is not being described as life threatening.
At the time of the incident the coach was carrying 29 school children on the way to an afternoon swimming lesson.
Specialist recovery agents, Bartletts, have been called to the scene; however efforts to recover the vehicle are being hampered by overhanging trees which are surrounding the damaged coach and are in danger of falling to the ground.
Tree surgeons are currently in the process of cutting down sections of the damaged trees in order to allow safe recovery of the coach from it’s current position.
Police officers from the Shanklin Roads Police Unit have launched an investigation, and have advised that the road is likley to remain closed for the next couple of hours. Diversions have been put in place via Beatrice Avenue and York Avenue.
