Schoolgirls cheat death after bus smash (From This Is Local London)

Schoolgirls cheat death after bus smash

Barnet : Seatbelts probably saved the lives of ten schoolgirls when their coach overturned and ploughed into railings during Monday's morning rush hour.

The youngsters all aged between 11 and 17 and including three sets of sisters were on their way to Hasmonean High School in Mill Hill when their coach collided with a van and spun out of control.

All escaped with cuts and bruises as passers-by helped them from the wreckage but the van driver was taken to Barnet Hospital with suspected broken ribs. His condition was unknown at the time of writing.

The accident, shortly after 8am at Fiveways Corner, Mill Hill, caused traffic chaos and long tailbacks along the A41 and Great North Road.

The coach, carrying students from Ilford, Essex, had just dropped off at Hasmonean's boys' school in Holders Hill Road, Hendon, and was heading for the girls' campus in Page Street, Mill Hill, when the collision occurred.

Mark Lawrence, sub-officer at Mill Hill fire station, said: "When we turned up and saw the coach we expected the worst but there they all were pretty much fine without a doubt seatbelts saved lives.

"The majority of them seemed in pretty good spirits, they were just incredibly lucky."

A school spokeswoman said youngsters had been taken to Barnet Hospital and then sent home. Some wanted to carry on to school regardless, she added.

Rabbi David Radomsky, headteacher, said: "The fire brigade, police, ambulance service and members of the public showed real humanity. We thank God that the girls escaped serious harm in what could have been a really terrible accident."

Police investigators are probing the cause of the accident but early indications suggest the coach may have suffered a mechanical failure.

Matthew Nixson