A harrowing incident unfolded in southern England on Thursday when a double-decker bus transporting high school students veered off the road and plummeted into the River Itchen, resulting in the hospitalization of the driver and four teenagers. Additionally, more than a dozen others suffered minor injuries.
The bus, on its scheduled journey to Barton Peveril Sixth Form College, was drastically diverted from its path in Eastleigh. As law enforcement and the bus company began probing the cause of this alarming accident, questions loomed about what led to the vehicle’s unexpected detour into the river.
Authorities indicated that no clear reason had yet emerged to explain why the bus swerved into the water. Nonetheless, a nearby resident, who witnessed the crash, reported hearing screeching sounds as the bus breached barriers and splashed into the river. The driver allegedly mentioned to her that the bus had become unmanageable.
Kelly West, who was instrumental in assisting some students to reach safety, described the alarming events, comparing it to a scene from the movie “Speed,” noting that the bus seemed increasingly out of control.
“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 recounted. “I can well imagine they were all thinking they were going to die, quite frankly.”
Inspector Andy Tester from the Hampshire Constabulary expressed that the incident “must have been terrifying,” highlighting the distress faced by those involved.
On-board, all 19 passengers managed to either escape or were aided off the bus. The bus driver had to be freed, while he and one student endured serious injuries. However, authorities assured their conditions were not life-threatening.
Despite his injuries, West reported that the driver was conscious but in a state of panic. She attempted to calm him, ensuring that assistance was on its way.
“He said the brakes failed and the accelerator was jammed and that he was trying to avoid cars,” West shared.
The aftermath saw the bus upright in the river, its windows shattered, splattered with mud, and a significant portion of bridge railing missing. Emergency responders, including paramedics, helicopters, ambulances, and fire crews, quickly arrived on the scene to tend to the victims and assess the damage.
Bluestar Bus, the operator of the vehicle, stated that they were not yet aware of the exact details surrounding the crash, leaving many to await further investigations that might illuminate this unsettling event.