‘Major incident’ declared after school bus overturns in Cheshire

Emergency services have declared a “major incident” after a school bus overturned on a motorway in Cheshire.

North West ambulance service said a female patient had been taken to hospital suffering “major trauma-related injuries”, and that nearly 50 others – mostly school pupils – were being assessed at the scene.

Motorists said they saw schoolchildren climbing out of the smashed rear window of the coach near junction five of the M53 at about 8.30am on Friday.

Images posted on social media showed boys standing by the side of the motorway next to the overturned vehicle.

Two schools in Merseyside – Calday Grange grammar school and West Kirby grammar school, both in Birkenhead – confirmed that their bus was involved in the collision.

Sherin Akhtar, a local Labour councillor, said she drove past the crash minutes after it happened and saw “pupils on the floor”.

Akhtar, who was in the car with her 13-year-old daughter, said: “We recognised the coach and we knew which students were in there and we know that there were students that my son knows because he goes to the same grammar school. He was in the coach behind and we were in front.

“There were clearly casualties outside, there were pupils on the floor.”

Akhtar said the coach was one of several daily buses that take pupils from Chester to Calday Grange and West Kirby grammar schools.

Alder Hey children’s hospital said it had declared a “major incident” in response to the crash.

It said: “Following an incident on the M53, we have called a major incident. Our emergency department is currently extremely busy and we would also ask parents to only bring their children to the department if it is urgent.”

Merseyside fire and rescue service said there were a “number of casualties” involved. An air ambulance was also sent to the scene.

The ambulance service said at 10.30am it had declared a “major incident” after the collision of a coach and a car.

It added: “The trust dispatched a large number of resources to the scene, including ambulances, advanced paramedics, our hazardous area response team and a helicopter emergency medical service doctor.

“So far, one female patient has been taken to hospital suffering major trauma-related injuries. There are also nearly 50 other patients being assessed at the scene. We are working closely with our incident partners to convey people away from the scene as quickly as possible.”

A spokesperson for the fire service said: “Fire crews have been called to the scene of a road traffic collision between junctions five and four of the M53 on the northbound carriageway this morning.

“Two fire engines and the search and rescue team are in attendance. Crews were alerted at 8.05am and on scene at 8.16am. Crews arrived at the scene to find an overturned bus with a number of casualties.

“North West ambulance and Merseyside police are also in attendance. The incident is ongoing and the carriageway will remain closed for some time.”

Calday Grange grammar school wrote on social media: “We are aware of a situation involving one of our school buses on the motorway earlier today. We’re actively gathering details and assisting affected students and their families. Support is available. If you need to talk or seek guidance, please reach out to our teaching and pastoral teams.”

National Highways said the M53 had been closed in both directions after the incident between junctions five and four towards Liverpool.

Merseyside police said it received a report just after 8am that a bus had “struck a reservation” at junction five of the M53.

It said the fire and rescue service was “ensuring the safe removal of passengers and the driver” of the bus and that paramedics were “attending to anyone requiring treatment”.

The force added: “Please note this incident is ongoing and we are urging people to refrain from speculating or publishing any sensitive information that could be distressing online or via social media platforms.”