Colchester school children and coach driver taken to hospital

Emergency services are currently on the scene of a major incident on the A12 access road to Spring Lane and Cymbeline Way.   

They were called at about 8.50am this morning, following reports of a two-vehicle crash involving a coach.

The large vehicle's passengers were young students who attend Colchester County High School For Girls, in Norman Way.

Newsquest (Image: Newsquest)

The driver of the coach has since been taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Some of the children have also been taken to hospital, although none of their injuries are being treated as life-threatening or life-changing.

Bosses at Colchester County High School have since spoken to all parents of the children involved in order to update them.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: "Emergency services remain at the scene.

"The road remains closed and there is a high amount of traffic currently on the A12.

"We ask that road users please find alternative routes and avoid the areas."

Newsquest (Image: Newsquest)

Since the shocking incident eyewitnesses have shared first-person account of what they saw with the Gazette.

Nigel Butfield said: "It looked like the coach collided with another vehicle and hit the roundabout and a tree.

"All the kids were out, and a few were laying down. There was a helicopter on scene, as well as multiple ambulances and an ambulance command unit.

"The windscreen was completely caved in."

Matt Simmo also drove past the shocking scene.

He said: "There was a coach carrying loads of school kids crashed on Spring Lane roundabout.

"It looked like the coach had hit a tree in the middle of the roundabout.

"All the emergency services were there before I drove past - there was a helicopter as well in the air.

"There were loads of school kids standing on the roundabout."

Colchester County High School For Girls has been contacted for comment.

Follow our live blog for all the latest updates