A bus transporting student-athletes from second-cycle schools in the lower mid-zone of the Volta Region experienced a fire incident at the Akatsi Agbedrafor junction last Saturday.
Fortunately, no students were harmed during the incident, but they did lose their belongings. Regrettably, the bus, which was the property of Akatsi Senior High Technical School, was completely destroyed.
The incident occurred as the student-athletes from the lower mid-south zone had gathered for the 47th inter-zonal festival held in Sogakpe.
The games concluded on Friday, October 6, 2023, with their return journey scheduled for Saturday, October 7, 2023.
Upon reaching the Akatsi Agbedrafor junction, the bus experienced a mechanical malfunction, resulting in a fire. Thankfully, all occupants were able to safely evacuate the bus without any injuries.
Notably, the student-athletes on board the bus represented Zone 9, comprising approximately ten schools.
A bus carrying athletes from the Second Cycle Schools Inter-Zonal Sports Festivals in Sogakope caught fire in Akatsi.
A bus carrying student athletes from lower mid-zone Volta schools caught fire at Akatsi Agbedrafor junction on Saturday. Fortunately, no students were injured, but they lost their luggage.
The bus, property of Akatsi Senior High Technical School, was completely destroyed. These student athletes were part of the lower mid-south zone contingent who participated in the 47th inter-zonal festival at Sogakpe.
The games concluded on Friday, October 6, 2023, and their return journey was on Saturday, October 7, 2023. While approaching Akatsi Agbedrafor junction, the bus experienced a mechanical issue and subsequently caught fire.
Fortunately, all occupants were able to safely disembark from the bus without anyone sustaining an injury. The student athletes on board the bus were from Zone 9, comprising approximately 10 schools as a single contingent.
The bus is believed to have been booked before overturning on the M53 near Liverpool while transporting pupils to two schools in the Wirral, Calday Grange Grammar and West Kirby Grammar.
One driver tweeted a photo of the car lying on its side and described several children in school uniforms “escaping out the back window”.
Traffic came to a standstill in both directions as emergency crews worked for more than two hours to rescue the remaining passengers. Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service initially said there had been “a number of casualties” but did not immediately confirm their severity. North West Ambulance Service later confirmed a female patient had been taken to hospital with “serious injuries related to trauma”.
“Nearly 50 other patients are also being evaluated on site,” the statement added.
Calday Grange Grammar School in Birkenhead. Alder Hey Children’s Hospital declared a major incident following the accident.
It says: “Our emergency department is extremely busy at the moment and we also ask parents to only bring their children to the department in an emergency.”
Another Twitter user who claimed to have come across the “terrifying” scene said they saw “children standing on stiff shoulders”. Local councilor Sherin Akhtar said the bus would go to two different schools in the Wirral, Calday Grange Grammar and West Kirby Grammar.
Both schools said they were “aware of the situation” and were “actively gathering details and supporting affected students and their families.”
About 10 police cars, 4 fire trucks, 5 ambulances and an air ambulance were dispatched to the scene. Merseyside Police said the incident happened near Junction 5 northbound and the M53 is “likely to be closed for a period of time” in both directions between Junction 5 and Junction 4.
In a statement, the force added: “We can confirm that emergency services are in attendance on the M53 at Hooton following a collision involving a bus on the motorway. “Shortly after 8am, we received reports that a bus had crashed into the reserve at Junction 5 of the M53 road. Junctions 3 to 5 of the M53 are closed in both directions.
“Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service is currently ensuring the safe evacuation of passengers and drivers, and North West Ambulance Service is at the scene to assist anyone requiring treatment.
“Motorists are advised to avoid the area and seek alternative routes, and we advise people to be patient while the incident continues. Investigations are ongoing and updates will be published as soon as possible. “Please note that this incident is ongoing and we urge people to refrain from speculating or posting any sensitive information that could cause concern online or through social media platforms.”
School bus transporting 40 young children home from a trip to the French Alps crashed down a wooded hill and into a creek, according to authorities. The driver and his companion were hospitalized with serious injuries.
According to Fabien Mulyk, mayor of the town of Corps, where the incident occurred, 18 children and one other adult were treated for minor wounds.
The kids, he claimed, were “all doing fine.”
The regional prosecutor has opened an investigation into the incident. The mayor said the ‘most probable scenario’ is that the driver had some kind of medical problem while behind the wheel.
Local officials told French media that weather conditions were clear when the bus left the road, and no ice or snow on the section where the bus vehicle crashed. They said all the children were wearing seat belts.
A photo from the town published online showed the bus leaning off the slope of a ravine in a tangle of dried branches with its windshield shattered.
