Local coach driver dies in school bus crash in Belgium

The driver, who worked for Richmond Coaches, was from Lisburn.

Witness accounts suggest his coach, which was carrying 34 children on a school trip, crashed into a motorway bridge pillar on the A18 in West Flanders just before 10am local time.

The children, aged between 11 and 13, were accompanied by six teachers - all from Brentwood School in Essex.

The first and second year pupils, six teachers and two drivers were on their way to a theme park in the German city of Cologne when the accident took place.

A further 15 of those on board have minor injuries and were sent to hospital to be treated.

Ian Davies, the school’s head teacher said: “There are three children in hospital. We don’t know the full extent of their injuries.

“I know that one boy has a head injury which is being monitored very carefully.

“I have spoken to the lead teacher on the trip. He is in hospital, I think he broke his collar bone, but seemed in as good a shape as could be expected.”

Richmond Coaches of Ballinderry Road, Lisburn has confirmed that one of its vehicles had been involved in the crash.