A bus carrying 34 school pupils from the age of 11 and 13, from a school in Brentwood, Essex, crashed on a Belgian motorway in the morning of 28th June 2015. The crash killed the driver, James 'Geordie' Chance, who was a grandfather-of-five. The bus had crashed into a motorway bridge pillar.
A 13-year-old boy had to be taken to the intensive care unit as he had fractured his skull in the accident. However, the head of the Brentwood school, Ian Davies said that the boy is out of the ICU as his brain scan was positive. Another boy, of the age of 12 is being treated in hospital for leg injuries at a hospital in Bruges.
Many students returned back to the UK late Sunday night on a coach arranged by the school. Rajiv Devesh Mehta (13) was also on the bus when the accident took place. He suffered no injuries and has come back home safely.
The Headteacher said, “There was quite a welcoming party when the coach eventually drew up. I was quite shocked at some of the injuries the teachers had sustained.”
Ian Davies went on to state that counsellors would be available to the pupils and teachers. “I would expect staff who were involved in the trip and certainly all the children to make use of that counselling opportunity. I don't think it's a quick fix, its something that will go on for long time."
