Winchester school bus crash: Children taken to hospital with ‘serious injuries’ after roof ripped off double-decker

Several children have been taken to hospital after the crash in Winchester this morning

A double-decker bus carrying school pupils has hit a bridge in Hampshire, leaving several injured.

Three pupils from Henry Beaufort School were taken to hospital with serious injuries and a further 13 suffered minor injuries, Hampshire Police said, though none were life-threatening. 

The roof of the bus was torn off when it collided with a low bridge on Wellhouse Road in Winchester.

One child who was on the top deck said the bus may have been going the wrong route when it crashed.

“I think we were going the wrong route but none of us noticed … then we suddenly just hit the top of the tunnel,” schoolchild Zoe Kierans told the BBC.

She continued: “[The roof] all fell in on top of everyone, there was glass everywhere and everyone started screaming.”

Zoe, whose father had joined her at the scene, said locals who heard the crash came to help the pupils before ambulances arrived. 

"Everyone was crying and shaking and people were being sat down and helped. It was just a huge shock and panic," Zoe said.

Five fire crews attended the scene along with officers from Hampshire Police.

A police spokesperson said: "We were called at 8:10am today, 10 September, to reports of a serious collision on Wellhouse Lane, Winchester, after a school bus collided with a railway bridge causing significant damage to the top of the bus.

Bus roof was torn off in collision with railway bridge (PA)

"Three students with serious, but not life-threatening injuries, have been taken to hospital.

"A further 13 students with minor injuries were treated at the scene.

"All the students involved are aged between 11 and 16. A road closure is in place on Wellhouse Lane from the junction with Andover Road North to School Lane to enable us to deal with this incident.

"We are working in cooperation with the school and Hampshire County Council children’s services to provide support to the students and their parents."

One witness, dog walker Eliza Bruml, told the Hampshire Chronicle: “The whole top of the bus has been ripped off so there are no windows on the top.”

Winchester city councillor Jane Rutter said on Twitter: "Just had a report that a double decker bus has managed to lodge itself under the railway bridge in Wellhouse Lane, Headbourne Worthy. Emergency services have been called. Please avoid if possible."

Hants Roads Policing tweeted: "We are dealing with a serious collision on Wellhouse Lane, Winchester, after a school bus collided with a railway bridge.

"There are no life-threatening injuries. A road closure is in place on Wellhouse Lane from Andover Road North to School Lane. Thank you for your patience."