Somerset school bus crash

[BrettMRC]

The tone of reporting is becoming increasingly grim

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cjwnxl7ev4lt

[king arthur]

Gone off the road and "down a slope". Sounds ominous.

[stevemcs]

I didn't think you could get 70 people on a bus

[SydneyBridge]

One child died

[airbusA346]

stevemcs said:

I didn't think you could get 70 people on a bus

Headlines should probably say coach.

[MitchT]

Yep, I recall back in the day going on double decker buses which had a label at the front saying "seating capacity 64", and coaches are bigger.

[Earthdweller]

stevemcs said:

I didn't think you could get 70 people on a bus

School buses seat six across and leg room much reduced so more seats fitted

Pretty common for old coaches to be converted like that

[Stick Legs]

I know that stretch of road well.

It’s a blast in a sports car, and has just been resurfaced.

The reason it’s so ‘fun’ is that it has lots of corners that tighten and crests & dips which if you know it is rather appealing.

Suspect the coach driver got lulled into a false sense of security on the straighter bits and piled into a tightening bend with too much speed.

Plus it had just rained heavily for the first time in weeks.
I was cycling out that way, got caught in the downpour & the tarmac under my wheels was sketchy at times.

Tragic & avoidable.

[Dixy]

This is on my doorstep. The roads of Somerset are beautiful and huge fun in an Elise BUT are just not fit for purpose.
This is going to have a huge effect on a community where everyone knows everyone.

[Red9zero]

I too know the area well and have driven that road and past the school many times. So sad.

[matchmaker]

News headlines last night.

1. Lionesses win penalty shootout
2. One child killed and many injured in school coach crash

Perspective?

[anonymous-user]

matchmaker said:

News headlines last night.

1. Lionesses win penalty shootout
2. One child killed and many injured in school coach crash

Perspective?

Playing devil’s advicate, national news v regional news I suppose?

Awful accident, poor kids

[Stick Legs]

Southerner said:

matchmaker said:

News headlines last night.

1. Lionesses win penalty shootout
2. One child killed and many injured in school coach crash

Perspective?

Playing devil s advicate, national news v regional news I suppose?

Awful accident, poor kids

1600 die on UK roads.
Many more by various other misadventures.

Incredibly sad, but not national newsworthy.

[Quickmoose]

Stick Legs said:

Southerner said:

matchmaker said:

News headlines last night.

1. Lionesses win penalty shootout
2. One child killed and many injured in school coach crash

Perspective?

Playing devil s advicate, national news v regional news I suppose?

Awful accident, poor kids

1600 die on UK roads.
Many more by various other misadventures.

Incredibly sad, but not national newsworthy.

It was reported on the world service too, so it appears you're quite out of kilter in that regard...

[Quhet]

Stick Legs said:

I know that stretch of road well.

It s a blast in a sports car, and has just been resurfaced.

The reason it s so fun is that it has lots of corners that tighten and crests & dips which if you know it is rather appealing.

Suspect the coach driver got lulled into a false sense of security on the straighter bits and piled into a tightening bend with too much speed.

Plus it had just rained heavily for the first time in weeks.
I was cycling out that way, got caught in the downpour & the tarmac under my wheels was sketchy at times.

Tragic & avoidable.

Until we know the full details, I think it's a bit off to be casting aspersions on the driver. Could've been a number of things that happened to cause the crash. Not necessarily his fault.

[Dr Murdoch]

Quhet said:

Until we know the full details, I think it's a bit off to be casting aspersions on the driver. Could've been a number of things that happened to cause the crash. Not necessarily his fault.

Agreed.

Could also be a medical situation, vehicle malfunction (tyre blow out), who knows.

[anonymous-user]

Quhet said:

Stick Legs said:

I know that stretch of road well.

It s a blast in a sports car, and has just been resurfaced.

The reason it s so fun is that it has lots of corners that tighten and crests & dips which if you know it is rather appealing.

Suspect the coach driver got lulled into a false sense of security on the straighter bits and piled into a tightening bend with too much speed.

Plus it had just rained heavily for the first time in weeks.
I was cycling out that way, got caught in the downpour & the tarmac under my wheels was sketchy at times.

Tragic & avoidable.

Until we know the full details, I think it's a bit off to be casting aspersions on the driver. Could've been a number of things that happened to cause the crash. Not necessarily his fault.

And not necessarily a him, of course. Plenty of witnesses at least, so the outcome ought to be pretty conclusive. Just a horrible thing for all concerned to be involved in.

[Super Sonic]

Absolutely heartbreaking.

[Stick Legs]

Quhet said:

Until we know the full details, I think it's a bit off to be casting aspersions on the driver. Could've been a number of things that happened to cause the crash. Not necessarily his fault.

“I suspect”

In no way trying to blame anyone, just explaining the roads & my hunch as to why.

[Stick Legs]

Quickmoose said:

Stick Legs said:

Southerner said:

matchmaker said:

News headlines last night.

1. Lionesses win penalty shootout
2. One child killed and many injured in school coach crash

Perspective?

Playing devil s advicate, national news v regional news I suppose?

Awful accident, poor kids

1600 die on UK roads.
Many more by various other misadventures.

Incredibly sad, but not national newsworthy.

It was reported on the world service too, so it appears you're quite out of kilter in that regard...

Was merely explaining to someone why the national women’s football team may have been reported higher up the news totem pole.