A man has been arrested after a crash between a tractor and a bus in Kent left the bus driver and 12 children in hospital.
One child on Thursday remained in a serious but stable condition at a London hospital, after being airlifted there following the crash.
Three other children remained in a serious condition at local hospitals in Kent.
Kent Police confirmed a 33-year-old man from East Sussex was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
“He was later bailed to return to the police station, pending further investigation,” said a spokesperson.The crash happened on the A227 South Street near Culverstone Green, Meopham, around 3.25pm on Wednesday, near to the road’s junction with Chapman’s Hill.
Photos from the scene showed the tractor with its mechanical arm and bucket in the air.
Part of the upper deck of the bus appeared to have been torn off in the crash.
Police rushed to the scene, along with South East Coast Ambulance Service, an air ambulance, and Kent Fire and Rescue Service, on Wednesday afternoon.
One of the children was airlifted to Kings College Hospital in south London, while the driver and 11 other children were taken to local hospitals.
A further four people were treated at the scene by paramedics.
“The bus driver and 12 children were taken to hospital,” said a Kent Police spokesperson on Thursday.
Following a serious collision between a bus and tractor near Meopham at approx 3.30pm today (22/05). We treated and conveyed 12 patients to local hospitals. One patient was airlifted to Kings College Hospital and four other casualties were discharged at the scene.
— South East Coast Ambulance (@SECAmbulance) May 22, 2024
“One child remains in a London hospital in a serious but stable condition. Of the casualties taken for medical attention at local hospitals, three continue to be treated for injuries described as serious.”
At least 12 police and ambulance vehicles were seen at the scene. An air ambulance and Kent Fire and Rescue Service vehicles also responded.
The incident is being investigated by Kent Police’s Serious Collision Unit (SCIU).
The force said it was seeking any dashcam and phone footage of the incident and appealed for any witnesses, or anyone with phone or dashcam footage of the incident, to get in contact.
