Week since fatal coach crash 'one of deep sorrow'

The past week since a 10-year-old boy died when a school coach crashed has been "one of deep sorrow", his head teacher has said.

Oliver Price was travelling on a coach carrying pupils from Minehead Middle School in Somerset when it left the road near the village of Wheddon Cross and slid down a 20ft (6m) slope on 17 July.

People who responded to the crash have since praised the community spirit they witnessed first-hand as people rushed to help.

Head teacher Laura Mackie said: "We are grateful for the outpouring of support from so many people. It has meant a great deal to everyone at Minehead Middle School and has been a source of strength during this incredibly difficult time."

She added: "This past week has been one of deep sorrow for our whole school.

"The loss of such a brilliant young life has profoundly affected everyone - students, staff, families and the wider community.

"We continue to keep Oliver and those closest to him firmly in our thoughts, and we are supporting our school community with great care and sensitivity as we begin to process what has happened."

The coach was returning to Minehead Middle School after a trip to the zoo

Jill Thompson, from Wheddon Cross, was part of a team that supported families waiting at a nearby rest centre, providing hot drinks, food and a hub where information could be shared.

"I have to completely praise the police, the fire service, the ambulance service, the air ambulance - they are just amazing people; Musgrove Park sent nurses out. The whole community came together to help," she said.

"It was a terrible day. The poor parents and children who will always remember I think this incident. You couldn't really forget it.

"People in the community do love those children more than anything in the world".

She added: "The impact of this coach crash has pulled the community really together."

'Very quiet'

While Ms Thompson's team gave immediate support to parents and children, a team of paramedics worked alongside them, triaging young patients.

Those with more serious injuries were taken to Musgrove Park Hospital and the Bristol Royal Infirmary, while those with minor injuries were taken to Minehead Community Hospital.

"Most staff offered to stay to help," said Hannah Coleman, the service lead for community urgent care, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust.

"There were quite a few patients with head injuries and cuts, some of them quite deep cuts from the rolling down the hill I would imagine.

"The children were very traumatised, very quiet."

She added: "It was really not like these children, who we know because we see them all the time when they come off their bikes and when they're poorly."

Tiverton and Minehead MP Rachel Gilmour has asked the government for support

Since the crash a week ago, local groups have raised tens of thousands of pounds, with planned events and crowdfunding appeals, and Somerset Council has given £50,000 to a Somerset Community Foundation appeal.

The Liberal Democrat MP for Tiverton and Minehead, Rachel Gilmour, has also written to the government asking for support for the families involved.

"It is my job to follow this up and see what I can get the government to do to help my community," she said.

"Somerset Community Foundation is also making sure children can get support over the summer holidays."

'Painstaking' forensics

Local ward councillor, Mandy Chilcott (Cons) also said she was working towards getting in-school support for those affected.

Avon and Somerset Police said it is continuing to investigate the cause of the crash.

"The coach was recovered on Saturday 19 July and is now subject to a painstaking forensic examination by experts," read a statement.

"Our serious collision investigation team has examined the collision site, and specialist officers searched the area. This was challenging due to the steep slope, woodland and undergrowth.

"Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Oliver Price, 10, and a dedicated family liaison officer is available to them."

Two children and an adult remain in hospital.