Schoolchildren involved in a coach crash in Belgium in which a driver died have returned to Essex. The students returned just before midnight on Sunday 28th June, although others had already been collected by parents who had travelled out to Belgium following the crash on Saturday 27th June.
The incident happened on the A18 (E40) autoroute at Middelkerke, West Flanders. Eyewitnesses said the bus crashed into a motorway bridge pillar. Of the 24-strong party, all aged between 11 and 13, from Brentwood School in Essex two children and one adult were kept in hospital overnight, with one being seriously injured and in intensive care for a head injury. Other students were treated for cuts, bruising and swelling. The bus's driver, Stephen Cardwell, from Northern Ireland, is said to be in a stable condition in hospital.
Driver James "Geordie" Chance, who was in his 50s, a grandfather of five and also from Northern Ireland, was killed when the bus crashed on a motorway on Sunday. He had been sitting in the coach's courier seat when the vehicle crashed at 09:45 local time (08:45 BST), Richmond Coaches, the bus operator from Northern Ireland, confirmed.
Brendan McKenna, director of Richmond Coaches, said he was "devastated" to hear of the death of Mr Chance, continuing: "Our thoughts and prayers are with all the families that have been affected by this tragic accident."
Brentwood School head Ian Davies said pupils and staff would be offered counselling, but the school was open as normal for those not involved in Sunday's events.
The authorities have not arrested anyone in conjunction with the incident nor given any indication as to its causes as yet.
The tragedy has brought into focus the need for schools to have effective emergency plans in place which enable them to deal with any type of incident, especially ones which may occur abroad. For details of how Handsam Ltd can assist your school please read more about our Emergency Response and Critical Incident planning services.
