Seven injured in 'serious' Staffordshire school minibus crash
Schoolchildren were injured when the minibus they were travelling in was involved in a crash with a car in South Staffordshire today.
Seven people, including four teenagers, have been taken to hospital following the head-on collision between a car and a minibus near Codsall.
One child was seriously injured and airlifted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, almost three hours after the smash.
The other students from Codsall Community High School suffered minor injuries in the accident in Boscobel Road, Codsall Wood, which happened at 8.20am.
The driver of the blue Toyota Auris - a man in his forties - had to be cut free from the car and was taken to University Hospital North Staffordshire with face, chest, and pelvic injuries. He is said to be in a serious but stable condition. A passenger travelling in the car was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham.
The driver of the minibus was also injured and sent to New Cross Hospital.
A spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance Service said: "All 15 teenagers from the minibus, together with the driver, had managed to free themselves from the vehicle.
"One of the teenagers, a male, was treated for significant leg and pelvic injuries before being airlifted to Birmingham Children's Hospital for further treatment.
"Additionally, one male and two female teenagers also required treatment for minor head, facial and leg injuries. All three were taken to New Cross Hospital by land ambulance.
"The remaining passengers on the minibus were assessed and discharged on scene."
The scene has been cleared, but Boscobel Road near Langley Lawn Farm remains closed.
Headteacher Marjorie Tunnicliffe has been down to the scene and stressed that the accident would not affect the running of the school day.
She added: ""It was a huge shock to hear our minibus had been involved in an accident and that some pupils and a member of staff had been injured.
"Our immediate priority is to support those involved and their families and I would like to thank everyone for their help at the scene of the accident this morning."
Families of the children have been informed.
An investigation into the collision is now underway and police are appealing for witnesses to contact them on 101, quoting incident 92 of October 15.
