A child has died after a school coach carrying children and staff home from an end of term trip flipped onto its roof and slid down a 20ft bank in Somerset.
The coach was travelling back to nearby Minehead Middle School with about 60 to 70 passengers on board on the A396 at Cutcombe Hill on Thursday afternoon when the incident took place.
A local resident said the coach had gone off the road and down a 20-foot slope.
Avon and Somerset Police said on Thursday evening that a child had died following the incident.
Speaking outside Bridgwater Police Centre, Chief Superintendent Mark Edgington said: “A number of other people have presented or been taken to hospital, some with serious injuries.
“This includes two children who were taken to hospital by air ambulance, many passengers either sustained minor injuries or were physically unharmed and were transferred to a rest centre.
“Work to help them return to Minehead has been taking place throughout the evening. An investigation into the cause of this incident will be carried out.”
Sir Keir Starmer issued a statement on X, saying “there are no adequate words to acknowledge the death of a child”.
Key Points
- Child killed after school coach crashes
- Everything we know
- Starmer issues statement on 'heartbreaking' crash
- In full: One child dead after school coach crash in Somerset
Local MP issues full statement
04:00
,
Tom Watling
Local MP Rachel Gilmour has issued a full statement following the tragic death of a child after a school bus crashed in Somerset.
You can read her full statement below.
STATEMENT:
— Rachel Gilmour, MP for Tiverton & Minehead (@RachelGilmourLD) July 17, 2025
I thought I would have to do many things as the Member of Parliament for Tiverton and Minehead, but this was not one of them. pic.twitter.com/rZ5x52ZYh1
Dozens of ambulance vehicles attend the scene
03:02
,
Tom Watling
Twenty-one people have been taken to hospital after the coach crash, the press conference was told last night.
Wayne Darch, deputy director of operations for the South Western Ambulance Service said: “We declared a major incident that has since been stood down.
“We sent 46 resources to the scene, including 20 double-crewed ambulances, three air ambulances, a command team and two hazardous area response teams.
“We treated several patients at the scene and conveyed 21 patients to hospital via land and by air.”
Starmer issues statement on 'heartbreaking' crash
01:01
,
Tom Watling
Sir Keir Starmer has led tributes to the school child who was killed in a car crash yesterday in Somerset.
A heartbreaking update on the school bus crash in Somerset.
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) July 17, 2025
There are no adequate words to acknowledge the death of a child. All my thoughts are with their parents, family and friends, and all those affected.
Thank you to the emergency workers who are responding at pace — I’m…
Education secretary pays tribute to child killed in school bus crash
Friday 18 July 2025 00:27
,
Tom Watling
The Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson, described the fatal school coach crash in Minehead as “heartbreaking.”
“It is heartbreaking to hear that a child has died and others are seriously injured following the incident in Minehead earlier today”, she said in a post on X.
“My thoughts are with their friends and families, and all those affected by this tragic event.”
One child dead after school bus crash in Somerset
Thursday 17 July 2025 23:56
,
Tom Watling
Police confirm child died after Minehead bus crash
Thursday 17 July 2025 23:00
,
Tom Watling
Angela Rayner issues statement on Somerset crash
Thursday 17 July 2025 22:44
,
Tom Watling
Heartbreaking to learn a child has lost their life in the devastating incident in Minehead.
— Angela Rayner (@AngelaRayner) July 17, 2025
Thinking of all the families and loved ones of those injured and impacted by this horrific tragedy.
Grateful for the emergency services' tireless efforts.
Mapped: Where did the crash take place?
Thursday 17 July 2025 22:30
,
Tom Watling
Below, you can see a map detailing where the crash took place.
Police and crime commissioner praises rescue teams
Thursday 17 July 2025 22:22
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Tom Watling
Clare Moody, police and crime commissioner for Avon and Somerset Police, has praised the emergency services for their swift response to the horrific crash.
“This is a tragedy and my thoughts are truly with the families of all those involved and what they must be going through,” she said.
“The dedication of the emergency services means that the last thing on their minds today will be themselves but they will need support in the days ahead.”
Education secretary issues statement
Thursday 17 July 2025 22:19
,
Tom Watling
Education secretary Bridget Phillipson has issued a statement following the school bus crash in Somerset.
She wrote: “ It is heartbreaking to hear that a child has died and others are seriously injured following the incident in Minehead earlier today.
“My thoughts are with their friends and families, and all those affected by this tragic event.”
It is heartbreaking to hear that a child has died and others are seriously injured following the incident in Minehead earlier today.
— Bridget Phillipson (@bphillipsonMP) July 17, 2025
My thoughts are with their friends and families, and all those affected by this tragic event.
Local MP stifles tears as she speaks of school bus tragedy
Thursday 17 July 2025 22:08
,
Tom Watling
Rachel Gilmour, the MP for Tiverton and Minehead, herself a mother of four, stifled tears as she told Sky News she had no words for the tragedy of the crash.
“I don’t have words, to be honest,” she said, noting how “close-knit” the community is. “It’s a day I wish I did not have to comment on.”
She added that Minehead school had been “making my heart sing” as it blossomed into a successful school.
“The children were full of confidence, they were happy, they were secure, and ... I cannot imagine how those parents are now feeling,” she said.
School issues statement on Somerset coach crash
Thursday 17 July 2025 22:00
,
Tom Watling
The trust which runs the school whose pupils were on the coach that crashed near Minehead, Somerset, has said it is working closely with the emergency services.
In a statement, Beacon Education Multi-Academy Trust, which runs Minehead Middle School, said: “We are working closely with the emergency services and relevant authorities following an incident this afternoon to support our pupils, families, and staff at this very difficult time.
“We will update our school community further as soon as more information becomes available, and we kindly ask for your patience and understanding as we manage this evolving situation with care and sensitivity.”
We have some more details of the crash
Thursday 17 July 2025 21:53
,
Tom Watling
The school coach slid 20ft down a bank after it flipped onto its roof, the press conference has been told.
An off-duty firefighter travelling behind the coach was able to start freeing passengers immediately, Gavin Ellis of Devon and Somerset Fire & Rescue Service said.
“We were mobilised to a major incident of a coach that had overturned onto its roof and slid approximately 20ft down the embankment,” he told reporters.
“Our crews carried out a number of extrications and rescues in extremely difficult circumstances, and they also supported our ambulance colleagues with casualty treatment.
“This was a very complex and technically difficult incident for our crews to deal with, and I’m grateful for the tireless effort and actions of the crews in doing everything they could for those who were trapped and as quickly as safely as possible.
“I’m also grateful to the off-duty firefighter who was traveling behind the coach at the point of the crash who was able to start to release those casualties from the bus.”
Starmer issues statement on 'heartbreaking' crash
Thursday 17 July 2025 21:52
,
Tom Watling
Sir Keir Starmer has described the news that a child has died in a school bus crash as a “heartbreaking” update.
In a post on X, he wrote: “A heartbreaking update on the school bus crash in Somerset.
“There are no adequate words to acknowledge the death of a child. All my thoughts are with their parents, family and friends, and all those affected.
“Thank you to the emergency workers who are responding at pace — I’m being kept up to date on this situation.”
A heartbreaking update on the school bus crash in Somerset.
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) July 17, 2025
There are no adequate words to acknowledge the death of a child. All my thoughts are with their parents, family and friends, and all those affected.
Thank you to the emergency workers who are responding at pace — I’m…
Everything we know
Thursday 17 July 2025 21:49
,
Tom Watling
Below is a quick summary of everything we know about today’s horrific crash in Somerset.
- A school bus crashed at 3.15pm on A396, near Minehead
- It was carrying between 60 and 70 people
- Witnesses say it fell down a 20ft slope at an area where there are no barriers on the road
- There were dozens of children on board the coach from Minehead Middle School
- One child was pronounced dead at the scene
- Two more were airlifted to the nearby hospital
- In total, 21 people were taken to hospital
It remains unclear what caused the coach to crash. It was heading back to Minehead Middle School. The school’s term finishes in less than a week.
Police statement in full
Thursday 17 July 2025 21:46
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Tom Watling
We bring you the full statement of Chief Superintendent Mark Edgington of Avon and Somerset Police.
Speaking outside Bridgwater Police Centre, Mr Edgington said: “We can confirm tonight that one child has sadly died.
“A formal identification process will need to be carried out, but our thoughts and sympathies are with their family, who we are in contact with.
“A specially-trained officer will be providing them with support.
“Many passengers either sustained minor injuries or were physically unharmed and were transferred to a rest centre.
“Work to help them return to Minehead has been taking place throughout the evening.”
Transport secretary says she is receiving regular updates
Thursday 17 July 2025 21:36
,
Tom Watling
Transport secretary Heidi Alexander says she is receiving regular updates on the Somerset crash.
I’m aware of the serious incident involving a bus near Minehead, Somerset.
— Heidi Alexander MP (@Heidi_Labour) July 17, 2025
My thoughts are with all those involved.
The emergency services are on scene, and I am receiving regular updates on the situation.
In pictures: Emergency services tend to crash
Thursday 17 July 2025 21:35
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Tom Watling
We have some of the first pictures from the scene of today’s car crash in Somerset.
Pictures of the damaged school coach are not being published.
In full: One child dead after school coach crash in Somerset
Thursday 17 July 2025 21:33
,
Tom Watling
Below, you can read in full our story on today’s horrific crash in Somerset.
What happened?
Thursday 17 July 2025 21:31
,
Tom Watling
Details are still emerging as to what happened to cause the crash.
It happened on the A396 at Cutcombe Hill, between Wheddon Cross and Timbercombe, at about 3.15pm on Thursday, police said.
A resident who lives near the site of a school coach crash near Minehead, Somerset, has described the incident as horrendous.
The person, who did not wish to be named, said: “The coach has gone down the slope. It’s pretty steep around here and it’s a big coach.
“There are no barriers along there or anything.”
The A396 remains closed.
Who has been hurt?
Thursday 17 July 2025 21:29
,
Tom Watling
Police have issued a statement alongside the fire and ambulance services to say that at least one child has tragically died at the scene.
Two more were airlifted to hospital.
They added that a total of 21 people were taken to hospital.
Between 60 and 70 people were on the Minehead Middle School coach when it crashed.
We bring you the latest from Somerset
Thursday 17 July 2025 21:28
,
Tom Watling
Good evening.
We bring you the tragic news that a school bus carrying dozens of pupils has crashed in Somerset, leaving at least one child dead and two more seriously wounded.
More to follow.
