Double-decker bus carrying students plunges into river in England in ‘terrifying’ crash
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Double-decker bus carrying students plunges into river in England in ‘terrifying’ crash
The bus was bound for Barton Peveril Sixth Form College, a school for 16- to 18-year-olds. It sped off a road in Eastleigh and plunged into the River Itchen. Police said there was no indication why the bus veered off the road. A woman who lives nearby and heard a screeching sound and saw the bus crash through roadside barriers into the water said the driver told her he couldn’t stop. The cause of the wreck was being investigated by police and the bus company.
The bus was bound for Barton Peveril Sixth Form College, a school for 16- to 18-year-olds, when it sped off a road in Eastleigh and plunged into the River Itchen. The cause of the wreck was being investigated by police and the bus company.
Police said there was no indication why the bus veered off the road. But a woman who lives nearby and heard a screeching sound and saw the bus crash through roadside barriers into the water said the driver told her he couldn’t stop.
Kelly West, who helped some of the students to safety, said the bus was going close to 60 mph (nearly 100 kph) and said it was like a scene out of “Speed,” the Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock film about a bus barreling through Los Angeles.
“One of the young adults said the bus was just getting faster and faster as it came down the road and they didn’t know what he was going to do,” West said. “I can well imagine they were all thinking they were going to die, quite frankly.”
Inspector Andy Tester of the Hampshire Constabulary said it “must have been terrifying.”
All 19 passengers on board were either able to get off the bus or were rescued, police said. The bus driver, who was trapped, and one student had serious injuries but were expected to survive.
West said the driver was alert and sharp, but panicking. She reassured him that help was on the way.
“He said the brakes failed and the accelerator was jammed and that he was trying to avoid cars,” West said.
The bus was sitting upright in the river, next to a bridge, water up to its axles. Its front windows were smashed and mud was splattered on its side. A large section of bridge railing was missing.
About 14 students were treated at the scene by paramedics, the South Central Ambulance Service said. Two helicopters, five ambulances and fire crews responded to the crash.
Bluestar Bus said it did not immediately know the circumstances of the crash.
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Students’ Double-Decker Plunges into River in England: Shocking Rescue Efforts Unfold
A double-decker bus carrying high school students plunged into a river in southern England on June 26, 2025. The driver and four students were hospitalized, while over a dozen others sustained minor injuries. Eyewitness accounts describe a harrowing scene, with one local resident recalling the driver claiming he couldn’t stop as the bus sped toward the water. As investigations continue, it’s vital for authorities to prioritize safety reforms to prevent future tragedies.
apnews.com
A double-decker bus carrying high school students plunged into a river in southern England on June 26, 2025, raising serious concerns about transportation safety. The incident occurred in Eastleigh, where the bus was en route to Barton Peveril Sixth Form College when it veered off the road and crashed into the River Itchen.
6 Key Takeaways Double-decker bus crashed into River Itchen.
Four teens and driver hospitalized.
Bus was en route to Barton Peveril College.
Witness reported bus was speeding.
Driver claimed brakes failed during incident.
Emergency services responded with helicopters and ambulances.
The driver and four students were hospitalized, while over a dozen others sustained minor injuries. Eyewitness accounts describe a harrowing scene, with one local resident recalling the driver claiming he couldn’t stop as the bus sped toward the water.
Fast Answer: A bus accident in southern England highlights urgent transportation safety issues, with multiple injuries reported among high school students.
This incident raises critical questions about vehicle safety measures and emergency protocols. How can we ensure that such accidents are prevented in the future? The following points are essential to consider:
Investigate the mechanical failure reported by the driver.
Assess the safety standards of public transportation vehicles.
Implement stricter regulations for driver training and emergency response.
This accident underscores the global importance of transportation safety, prompting discussions on improving regulations and vehicle maintenance worldwide.
As investigations continue, it’s vital for authorities to prioritize safety reforms to prevent future tragedies. Will this incident serve as a wake-up call for the transportation industry?
Double‑deck bus plunges into river, injures students in UK – NBC Connecticut
A double-decker bus carrying high school students plunged into a river in southern England. The driver and four teens were taken to the hospital with serious injuries. More than a dozen others were treated at the scene for minor injures. The cause of the crash is being investigated by police and the bus company. The bus was bound for Barton Peveril Sixth Form College, a school for 16- to 18-year-olds.. Police said there was no indication as to why the bus veered off the road.
The bus was bound for Barton Peveril Sixth Form College, a school for 16- to 18-year-olds, when it went off a road in Eastleigh and plunged into the River Itchen. The cause of the crash was being investigated by police and the bus company.
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“It must have been terrifying,” said Inspector Andy Tester of the Hampshire Constabulary.
All 19 passengers on board were either able to get off the bus or were rescued, police said. The bus driver and one student had serious injuries but were expected to survive.
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Police said there was no indication as to why the bus veered off the road. But a woman who said she heard a screeching sound and saw the crash said the driver told her he couldn’t stop.
“I heard some noise, I looked out of the window and he just came careening into the river,” Kelly West said. “It felt very fast and obviously he just went straight through the barriers and into the river.”
West rushed to the scene and found the driver trapped and panicking. She reassured him that help was on the way.
“He said the brakes failed and the accelerator was jammed and that he was trying to avoid cars,” West said.
The bus was sitting upright in the river, next to a bridge, water up to its axels. Its front windows were smashed and mud was splattered on its side. A large section of bridge railing was missing.
West said she helped some of the shaken students get off the bus and to her garden.
About 14 students were treated at the scene by paramedics, the South Central Ambulance Service said. Two helicopters, five ambulances and fire crews responded to the crash.
The Bluestar Bus said it did not immediately know the circumstances of the crash.
Injured student tells of horror and confusion after 19 hurt as bus crashes into Hampshire river
Bus was taking 19 students to Barton Peveril Sixth Form College when it came off Bishopstoke Road and ended in the River Itchen. Witness said the driver told them the bus had suffered mechanical failure and the brakes had stopped working. Two of those – the driver and a passenger – had injuries that were serious but not life-threatening, while 14 others, with less serious injuries, were treated at the scene. A total of 19 people were hurt in the crash in Eastleigh, Hampshire, at around 10am on Thursday. A video of the incident shows a student on board saying: “Oh my god, we are going to die” before screaming can be heard and the footage ends. Police said removing the badly damaged bus, which ended up below the road, would be a complex operation. The bus company Bluestar said: ‘Our thoughts are with everybody involved, and we wish those injured a full and speedy recovery’
A student has described the moment a double-decker bus he was on board crashed into a river, seriously injuring five people.
Several teenagers and the driver were trapped inside the vehicle after it veered off the road in Eastleigh, Hampshire.
The bus was taking 19 students to Barton Peveril Sixth Form College when it came off Bishopstoke Road and ended in the River Itchen, at around 10am on Thursday.
A witness said the driver told them the bus had suffered mechanical failure and the brakes had stopped working.
One of the students on board, called Freddie Sampson, told of the moment of the crash, and the panic that ensued after.
“We ran into a lamp-post and the whole windscreen shattered,” Freddie Sampson told the BBC.
“It was like we couldn’t stop and had to weave through traffic trying not to hit any cars and then the bus driver lost control – we went flying into the river.
open image in gallery Around 14 passengers were treated at the scene ( PA )
“It was all a bit manic. No-one really knew what was going on. I looked out the front to see people moving out of the way, like cars out the front… I looked round… they were all confused and scared.”
In a video of the incident, a student on board the bus can be heard saying: “Oh my god, we are going to die, we’re actually going to die” before screaming can be heard and the footage ends.
Kelly West, who lives nearby and rushed to the scene, said the driver had told her the brakes had failed and the accelerator jammed.
“I heard some noise, looked out of the window and he just came careening into the river,” she said.
Ms West said people were shouting and she found the driver trapped.
open image in gallery Inspector Andy Tester said it must have been terrifying ( PA )
She said: “I told him to stop panicking, help was on its way, and he said the brakes failed and the accelerator was jammed and that he was trying to avoid cars.”
Inspector Andy Tester, of Hampshire Constabulary, said five people were taken to hospital for treatment.
Two of those – the driver and a passenger – had injuries that were serious but not life-threatening, while 14 others, with less serious injuries, were treated at the scene, he said. A total of 19 people were hurt.
“It must have been terrifying, and my thoughts are very much with the children and the driver on the bus, who must have had a terrifying experience,” he said.
open image in gallery The road was closed ( PA )
Mr Tester praised the bravery of passers-by and emergency services in freeing those trapped.
The mother of one student said she panicked on hearing about the crash but praised the driver’s actions.
Gabriela McInnes Perez Cabrera wrote on Facebook: “My son has just arrived from college. One of his friends sustained a minor injury and went to class after the accident.
“My son showed me a video taken by one student when the bus couldn’t stop. They were so scared, the poor ones.
“I think the bus driver did their best and pulled to the river instead of going ahead as they were entering a more populated area.”
Another mother said on hearing the news she felt nervous and also panicked.
“I rushed straight here as quick as I could but I couldn’t get to my daughter. I’m panicking until I get to see her,” the woman, identified only as Annabel, told the BBC.
Police said removing the badly damaged bus, which had ended up in the water below the road level, would be a complex operation.
Richard Tyldsley, general manager of bus company Bluestar, said: “Our thoughts are with everybody involved, and we wish those who were injured a full and speedy recovery.
“At this time, we do not know the circumstances behind this incident and are carrying out an immediate investigation. We are also assisting the police as they carry out their own inquiries.”