Exmoor Bus Crash: Trainer Recounts “War Zone” Scene

Local Hero Used Quadbike to Aid Injured Schoolchildren

A harrowing scene unfolded on Exmoor when a school bus carrying over 70 students and adults veered off the A396 Cutcombe Hill. A local trainer, Alan Jones, described the aftermath as akin to a “war zone,” detailing his efforts to assist the injured before emergency services fully secured the area.

Desperate Measures in Devastation

The incident, which occurred on Thursday, resulted in the tragic death of a ten-year-old boy. Avon and Somerset Police confirmed on Friday that three adults and four children remained hospitalized. **Alan Jones**, whose property is a mere 600 metres from the crash site, was alerted by a client and immediately recognized the potential to help, given his quadbike’s ability to traverse fields and bypass the road closure.

“It felt like a war zone. The police asked what I was doing and I told them I had come to help, so they let me through. I saw two teachers sat on the road in front of me and they were just staring ahead, blank. There were children and adults laid out on the tarmac with drips, disoriented children walking up the road, a girl missing her fingers, so I did what I could to help them.”

—Alan Jones

An off-duty firefighter was already on scene, providing initial aid. **Jones** utilized his quadbike to transport eight individuals, including children and an adult with a suspected broken elbow, to a nearby pub, the Rest And Be Thankful Inn, which had been designated a “safe hub.”

His actions were crucial as disoriented children struggled to reach safety. “The children were being told to walk to the pub by the police, but they were disoriented and didn’t know where to go,” **Jones** recounted.

Road Safety Concerns Raised

While the road had been resurfaced in May, **Jones** noted that warning signs intended to reduce speed had not yet been replaced. He likened the steep, winding nature of the hill to a challenging horse racing course, emphasizing the potential for danger.

The National Highways reported 1,760 fatal road traffic collisions in Great Britain in the year ending June 2023, highlighting ongoing road safety challenges across the country (Gov.uk, 2023).