Following the report of the earlier coach crash, this just in from the council, in their own words. Ed
Staff have been praised after a coach contracted to take school children to a swimming class was involved in an accident shortly before 1pm this afternoon (Tuesday).
The cause of the accident, in which the coach collided with a bus shelter and a tree, is being investigated.
There were 29 Year Four children from Queensgate Foundation Primary School, East Cowes on the vehicle. They were on route to pick up colleagues at the school’s Whippingham site before heading onto swimming lessons at the Waterside Pool in Ryde. All pupils were wearing seatbelts at the time of the collision.
Four treated for minor injuries
Following the accident, four children were treated for minor injuries at St Mary’s Hospital at Newport and allowed home. A small number also received treatment for minor injuries from paramedics at the scene.
After the incident, head teacher Samantha Sillito (pictured) who attended the scene with deputy head teacher Sandie Johnson, praised the actions of staff members Dawn Jacobs and George Lloyd who were on the bus at the time.
Mrs Jacobs and Mrs Lloyd sprang into action when it became clear the driver had become ill at the wheel and the vehicle came to a stop in Victoria Grove and began to roll back down the hill.
Staff applied the handbrake
Realising something was wrong, the pair went to the front of the vehicle and attempted to apply the handbrake to reduce the speed of the bus. They also attempted to steer the bus to the side of the road.
When the vehicle had come to rest they also contacted emergency services and comforted the children until paramedics arrived.
They led the children from the vehicle – with workmen forming a line to further shield them from traffic – into the nearby Coburg Court residential complex where further comfort was given until medical help arrived.
Mrs Sillito said: “The staff acted really promptly and professionally. Their calm response was just what was needed in what was a difficult incident. They are a credit to themselves and the school.”
