A tragic incident occurred on the M53 motorway in Wirral, Merseyside, where a school bus overturned, resulting in the unfortunate deaths of a 15-year-old girl and a coach driver. This incident took place shortly after 08:00 BST when the coach collided with a reservation.
The school bus was transporting students to Calday Grange Grammar School in West Kirby and West Kirby Grammar School at the time. Merseyside Police reported that a total of 58 individuals were involved in this accident.
Among the casualties, a 14-year-old boy was receiving medical treatment for life-changing injuries. Additionally, 52 individuals were taken to a clearing center in Wallasey, with 39 of them being discharged without the need for further treatment, and 13 receiving treatment for minor injuries. Emergency services, including two air ambulances, were dispatched to the scene, located between junction four at Bebington and junction five in Hooton.
Both Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and the North West Ambulance Service initially declared the incident as major incidents, but Alder Hey later stood down from this status. The motorway was closed to facilitate an investigation into the crash’s circumstances, and Highways England announced that it was expected to remain closed for the remainder of the day.
Chief Superintendent Robson mentioned that specialized support was being provided to the affected families and that students who witnessed the incident on buses traveling with the one involved would also receive specialized trauma support. He urged people not to post anything on social media that could hinder the ongoing investigation or engage in speculation.
Simone White, director for children, families, and education at Wirral Council, emphasized their focus on supporting the affected students, families, and the wider school community. Birkenhead MP Mick Whitley expressed condolences and the community’s determination to come together to support the affected families.
Various public figures, including Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and Education Secretary Gillian Keegan, conveyed their condolences and sorrow regarding the tragic accident. Merseyside Police imposed flight restrictions on drones and helicopters in the area to enable emergency services to respond effectively. A temporary airspace restriction below 3,500ft above sea level was enforced.
Furthermore, the scheduled closure of the Birkenhead Tunnel was canceled, and it would remain open as long as the motorway closure persisted.
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