The 10-year-old boy who died in Thursday’s coach crash near Minehead has been named by police as Oliver Price, according to reports. Two children and three adults remain in hospital following the collision on the A396, with several other children discharged over the weekend.
Avon and Somerset Police confirmed in a statement: “Officers from our Serious Collision Investigation Team have been carrying out thorough enquiries to understand the full circumstances of the collision.”
The naming of the victim comes as the community continues to mourn the tragedy that occurred when a coach carrying pupils from Minehead Middle School overturned on Thursday afternoon.
Current Hospital Status
Following the crash on Thursday afternoon, 21 people were initially taken to hospital for treatment. The updated figures show a reduction in those requiring ongoing medical care.
Two children who were airlifted to Bristol Royal Hospital for Children on Thursday remain under medical supervision. Their conditions have not been disclosed by authorities.
At Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton, four children and three adults continue to receive treatment. The nature and severity of their injuries have not been made public.
Investigation Continues
The coach had been transporting approximately 60-70 pupils and staff from Minehead Middle School when it left the A396 at Cutcombe Hill shortly before 3pm on Thursday. The vehicle was returning from a day trip to Exmoor Zoo when it overturned and slid approximately 20 feet down an embankment.
Police continue to appeal for witnesses and dashcam footage as they work to establish the full circumstances of the crash. The Serious Collision Investigation Team is conducting what officials describe as “thorough enquiries” into the incident.
Chief Superintendent Mark Edgington previously confirmed that one child had died at the scene, with formal identification procedures following standard protocols.
Community Response
The tragedy has deeply affected the close-knit Somerset community. Minehead Middle School remained closed on Friday as staff and pupils came to terms with the loss.
Headteacher Laura Mackie spoke of “unimaginable loss” and being “completely heartbroken for our whole school community.” The school, which caters for pupils aged nine to 14, was just five days from the end of term.
Fundraising efforts have raised tens of thousands of pounds for affected families, with one appeal alone generating nearly £20,000 within 24 hours of being launched.
Emergency Response Praised
Officials have praised the response to what was declared a major incident. Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service described it as a “complex and technically difficult incident” that required seven people to be freed from the overturned vehicle.
Twenty double-crewed ambulances, three air ambulances, and specialist teams responded to the scene. An off-duty firefighter who was following the coach provided immediate assistance before emergency services arrived.
The Rest and Be Thankful pub in Wheddon Cross served as a rest centre for those with minor injuries or who were unharmed, with 24 volunteers from Exmoor Search and Rescue providing first aid triage.
Driver’s Condition
Ridlers Coaches, the operator of the vehicle, confirmed their driver remains in a stable condition in hospital with multiple injuries. The company’s director Peter Prior-Sankey said staff were “devastated” by the tragedy and thanked emergency services for their response.
The investigation into the cause of the crash continues, with police appealing for any witnesses or those with dashcam footage to come forward.
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