Schoolchildren injured as car crashes on main road near Wolverhampton
Children were injured when their school coach crashed on a main road near Wolverhampton today.
The vehicle, a Hills coach, hit a tree on the A41 near Perton after colliding with a silver Mercedes.
The road was closed from Perton traffic lights to the Oaken Arms, with drivers describing 'chaotic' scenes as traffic backed up.
The coach was taking pupils to Adams Grammar School in Newport when the crash happened at around 8am.
The female driver of the Mercedes – which was left badly damaged – was trapped in the car and had to be freed by firefighters before being taken to New Cross Hospital.
There were 18 youngsters on board the coach at the time of the crash.
One was taken to the same hospital to be checked over for a neck injury, while the coach driver was suffering with arm and leg pains.
Other children suffered bruising.
Debris was left littered across the road with both vehicles stranded while emergency services made their way to the scene.
One of the first on the scene was Dr David Watkin, who works at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital as a paediatrician.
The 28-year-old was driving behind the coach and said: "I saw it spin and then the coach went sideways and into the hedge.
"The silver car also spun and smoke came from it.
"The first thing I did was run to the coach to see how the children were but the driver assured me no one on board was seriously injured." Syed Aurangzeb's son was on the coach. He said: "Me and my wife were panicking – when you hear that a coach with your child on board has crashed you expect the worst.
"My son had no serious injuries, he had bruising to his cheek and was checked over by paramedics and they said he was ok."
Adams Grammar headmaster Michael Barratt praised his students for the way they handled the situation.
"We initially contacted the parents of the pupils on the bus through email, but many of the pupils had already contacted them through their own mobile devices," he said. "Our older pupils have been particularly effective at supporting the younger ones, which is something we always encourage."
Chris Kowalik, West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman, added: "A woman who is in her 50s and driver of the Mercedes was trapped by the damage and was cut free by the fire service. "She had an ankle injury. Crews immobilised her with the use of a spinal board and neck collar as a precaution and took her to New Cross Hospital.
"The coach driver had arm and leg pain and he was taken to the same hospital for checks. None of the injuries were serious."
Traffic from Wolverhampton was diverted down Wrottesley Park Road towards Perton while the incident was dealt with. The road reopened at 11.30am.
