Schoolgirl dies as minibus full of students crashes with lorry on A38 in Birmingham

A schoolgirl from Staffordshire has died after a minibus full of students crashed with a lorry this morning.

The 14-year-old was one of 26 people injured in the collision, which happened on the A38 in Castle Vale, Birmingham.

The minibus was full of a group heading to Wolverhampton Art Gallery from John Taylor High School in Barton under Needwood when it crashed with a bin lorry on Kingsbury Road near the junction with Forge Lane.

The teenager was confirmed dead at the scene, while 24 other people from the minibus were injured, although only one female student required hospital treatment.

Nineteen other students, three teachers and the drivers of the minibus and lorry were all discharged at the scene.

Officers from West Midlands Police have cordoned off a substantial area of the busy dual carriageway, where debris could be seen next to the Birmingham City Council truck.

WATCH: Footage from the scene

Collision investigators said the road would remain closed for several hours while they establish the circumstances around what happened. Both drivers are assisting police with this investigation.

Superintendent Dean Hatton, head of the Central Motorway Police Group, said: “This is a tragic incident which has resulted in the death of a pupil from the John Taylor High School in Barton-under-Needwood.

“The family of the teenage girl has been informed and they are being supported by officers from our family liaison unit.

“We are also in contact with the school and our colleagues at Staffordshire Police, who are understandably devastated as this occurred while their students were on a school trip.”

Asked if the pupils were wearing seat-belts, he replied: “That will be part of our investigation and, at the moment, I can’t confirm either way whether or not pupils were wearing seat-belts or otherwise.”

He said he would not speculate on the cause of the collision.

Meanwhile bosses at the specialist science and leadership academy, which is between Lichfield and Burton upon Trent, said they were 'working to support those directly affected'.

The group of Year 9 and Year 12 students were heading to Birmingham Botanical Gardens and Wolverhampton Art Gallery on a 29-seater Bagnalls minibus when the tragedy happened.

A statement from the school read: "Please be aware that a number of our Year 9 and Year 12 students that are on an art trip have been involved in a serious road traffic accident this morning.

"We are working to support those directly affected.

"Please support us by not ringing into school as this closes our lines.

"More information will be provided via the school website."

From the roadside, damage to the waste truck’s front end was visible, while the rear right-hand portion of the minibus had been covered over with a green tarpaulin.

Birmingham City Council confirmed one of its bin lorries was involved in the crash.

In a statement, it said: “We are deeply saddened by the death of a teenage girl this morning on Kingsbury Road and our thoughts are with her family, friends and all those affected.

“As a city council trade waste vehicle was involved in the incident we will be fully co-operating with all investigations.”

Machine worker Stephen Jones, who works nearby, said: "I heard a big bang at 9am this morning - a massive bang.

"I came over and had a look and the police were here with the sirens and they'd shut it all.

"I saw the coroner's ambulance and I heard a girl had passed away."

He added: "There are a lot of accidents here all the time, it's a busy road."

Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant said he was 'heartbroken' to hear the news.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman confirmed that they sent two ambulances, three paramedic officers, a senior paramedic officer, the Hazardous Area Response team and the Midlands Air Ambulance Crew from Cosford in a rapid response car.