Coaches carrying 60 primary school pupils crash at Shropshire tourist attraction
Eight children were taken to hospital and 16 others were assessed on scene following a two-coach crash carrying 60 Telford primary school pupils.
West Midlands Ambulance Service received a 999 call to reports of a collision at 10.42am yesterday in Millichope Park in Munslow, near Craven Arms.
Three ambulances, three paramedic officers, the trust’s Hazardous Area Response Team (HART), the Midlands Air Ambulance from Strensham and a BASICS emergency doctor from Mercia Accident Rescue Service (MARS) attended the scene.
None of the children, who attend Short Wood Primary School in Wellington, were seriously injured.
An ambulance service spokeswoman said: “Crews arrived to find two coaches, each carrying children who were on a school trip, which had been involved in a collision.
“With around 60 pupils and a number of adults on board, ambulance staff worked as a team to set up a triage assessment area to begin checking over those who had been injured.
“A total of 24 patients were triaged on scene and, of those, eight children required further hospital treatment. The children had suffered a range of relatively minor injuries. Two were taken to Hereford County Hospital while six were conveyed to Princess Royal Hospital.
“The remaining 16 patients who were assessed on scene were discharged and didn’t require any further treatment.”
Telford & Wrekin Council's education service said the pupils were were on an art trip and were travelling in vehicles operated by Telford based coach firm A T Brown.
Short Wood Primary headteacher Susan Harris said: “We are very relieved that no-one was hurt in the accident but understandably the pupils and staff were all shaken by it.
“I would like to thank the emergency services who were absolutely exceptional in their support of my pupils and staff. All parents have been informed about the accident and most pupils have now been picked up and gone home.”
The pupils were all, aged 10 or 11.
The outing to the site was called off following the accident which happened as the vehicles entered the park. It is thought that one of the coaches collided with the rear of the other.
