School trip coach involved in a collision, Wheddon Cross, Somerset 17/07/2025

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Road reopens following fatal school coach crash



A road has partially reopened at the scene of a coach crash in which a 10-year-old child was killed.

Oliver Price died when the coach carrying Minehead Middle School pupils left the road near Wheddon Cross in Somerset, and slid down a 6m (20ft) slope on 17 July.

The children and teachers on board had been returning from an end-of-year trip to Exmoor Zoo. In total, 21 people were taken to hospital to be treated.

One lane on the A396 between Wheddon Cross and Timberscombe remains closed with temporary barriers in place until permanent repairs can be made.



In a statement Somerset Council said there would be temporary traffic signals in place, and a 20mph speed limit until further notice.

Avon and Somerset Police has asked people not to leave flowers and tributes by the roadside.

The coach involved in the accident was recovered from the scene on 19 July and is now being forensically examined.

[LiskeardRich]

This incident hit me hard as I’d just got home from taking a school group of 60-65 passengers to Longleat on the day it happened. I’ve never had an incident like this effect me emotionally previously.

Something that’s stood out to me in all of the news reports. There has been No mention of the driver’s  condition that I have seen.

[grahame]

This incident hit me hard as I’d just got home from taking a school group of 60-65 passengers to Longleat on the day it happened. I’ve never had an incident like this effect me emotionally previously.

Something that’s stood out to me in all of the news reports. There has been No mention of the driver’s  condition that I have seen.

From Sky News on 18th July - but I have seen nothing since

The child, who hasn't yet been named, died yesterday afternoon while the driver remains in a stable condition in hospital.

And it is stated elsewhere that he will give evidence when the full inquest opens. 

[Chris from Nailsea]

I'm stepping in as an Admin here, just to emphasize that any speculation should be avoided.

The absence of any comment from the various authorities involved in the investigation in this early stage should not be interpreted as a suggestion that anything untoward has occurred.

Please, do not speculate, here or elsewhere: the facts will be made available, in due course, and any speculation may affect the outcome of any legal case.

Chris from Nailsea. 

[Chris from Nailsea]

I have now locked this topic, to avoid any further speculation.

Chris from Nailsea. 

[Chris from Nailsea]

Several recent posts have now been removed from this topic as they contain speculation regarding this sad incident.  Those posts have not been deleted, they have simply been removed from public view.

I have now unlocked this topic.

Chris from Nailsea. 

[Chris from Nailsea]

An update, from the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) - somewhat belatedly, for which I must apologise:

Minehead Middle School coach crash victims all out of hospital



Almost a month on from a bus crash which killed a 10-year-old boy, police say those injured in the collision have all been discharged from hospital.

Oliver Price died of a head injury when a coach carrying Minehead Middle School pupils left the road near Wheddon Cross in Somerset and slid down a 6m (20ft) slope on 17 July.

The children and teachers onboard had been returning from an end-of-year trip to Exmoor Zoo when the coach flipped onto its roof and slid down a bank.

In total, 21 people were taken to hospital to be treated for injuries. Avon and Somerset Police say their investigation into the incident is ongoing.

A hearing at Wells Coroner's Court last month heard that Oliver had been found in his seat with his seatbelt on, and was declared dead at the scene by paramedics.

A full inquest is set to take place on 14 January next year and will look into the events of the day before the crash, the circumstances in which the coach left the road and Oliver's medical cause of death.

The inquest is due to hear from Oliver's family, adult passengers on the coach, witnesses, the coach driver, emergency service workers and a pathologist.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Police revisit scene of coach crash that killed boy


The A396 was closed on Wednesday while police carried out a partial reconstruction of a fatal coach crash

Police investigating a fatal school coach crash have conducted a partial reconstruction to help them work out the circumstances which led to the incident.

Oliver Price, 10, died of a head injury when a coach carrying Minehead Middle School pupils left the A396 near Wheddon Cross in Somerset and slid down a 6m (20ft) slope on 17 July.

Avon and Somerset Police requested a temporary road closure on Wednesday to carry out investigation work at the scene. They said the reconstruction involved the "driving of a similar coach" along the route. "We informed Oliver's family in advance of this reconstruction and continue to support them throughout our enquiries," the police said.

In a statement, the force said the necessary road closure and reconstruction would mean investigators were "better equipped to obtain clear answers and provide clarity of all parties affected" by the crash. "This step is a part of the investigative process, and is a common practice in many serious collisions, aimed at accurately determining a sequence of events and factors involved in the collision," they said.

The coach was carrying up to 70 people back from a school trip to Exmoor Zoo when it overturned. A huge emergency services presence descended on the area, including a number of air ambulances to transport those most seriously injured. In total, 21 people were taken to hospital afterwards, police said.

A full inquest is set to take place on 14 January to look into how Oliver died. The inquest is due to hear from Oliver's family, adult passengers on the coach, witnesses, the coach driver, emergency service workers and a pathologist.