Overview

• Seventeen students were injured when the double-decker bus veered off Bishopstoke Road and into the River Itchen, with three classified as high-priority hospital cases.
• Emergency response included five ambulances, two air ambulances, specialist units, fire crews and local residents who all helped evacuate those on board.
• An incident centre has been established at The Hub in Bishopstoke to brief concerned parents while Barton Peveril staff coordinate with authorities.
• Authorities expect Bishopstoke Road to remain closed for up to 12 hours as teams recover the vehicle and conduct a forensic scene examination.
• Eyewitnesses reported that the driver experienced brake failure and a jammed accelerator, prompting police to scrutinize the bus’s mechanical systems.