A devastating school bus crash in Somerset, England, has left one student dead and more than 20 others injured after a coach carrying children and staff overturned on a rural road near Cutcombe Hill in Exmoor. The incident occurred on July 17, 2025, as students from Minehead Middle School were returning from an end-of-term trip to Exmoor Zoo before the start of summer break. Authorities said the coach, carrying approximately 60 to 70 passengers, reportedly left the A396 roadway, slid down a 20-foot embankment, and overturned onto its roof.
Emergency crews faced difficult rescue conditions due to the remote terrain and steep hillside surrounding the crash site. A major incident was declared as ambulances, air rescue teams, firefighters, and police rushed to the scene. Officials later confirmed that a 10-year-old boy died as a result of the crash, while multiple children and adults were taken to hospitals with injuries, some described as serious. Local residents and off-duty emergency personnel also reportedly assisted rescue efforts before additional crews arrived.
The tragedy has deeply shaken the Somerset community, with tributes and flowers placed outside the school in memory of the young victim, later identified as Oliver Price. Authorities continue investigating the cause of the crash while urging the public to avoid speculation during the ongoing inquiry. Community leaders, school officials, and national figures expressed condolences to the families affected by what many described as one of the region’s most heartbreaking incidents in recent years.
