School bus crashes into ditch after veering off the road
By Sky News, January 7, 2026A bus filled with schoolchildren has crashed into a ditch after slipping on black ice, as nine children were injured in a separate crash.
Pictures showed the double-decker bus nose-first down an opening off the side of the road in Kent.
Officers and paramedics rushed to the crash site to help passengers, but there were no reported injuries.
Kent Fire and Rescue Service said the bus was believed to have “slipped” off the road due to black ice.
In a statement, it said: “There are no reported injuries, and the cause is believed to be the vehicle slipping on black ice.
“Crews are reminding everyone to use extra caution when driving in cold temperatures as there could be black ice on the roads, so avoid sudden braking and leave plenty of space between you and the vehicle in front.”
Stagecoach confirmed the incident involving one of its school buses is under review.
A Kent Police spokesperson said: “Officers attended and remain on scene to assist while passengers leave the bus and the vehicle is recovered.
“Paramedics attended as a precaution. There were no reported injuries.”
Joel Mitchell, managing director at Stagecoach South East, said: “Stagecoach can confirm that an incident occurred on January 7 on the A28 in Ashford involving one of our school buses.
“There are currently no reported injuries. Stagecoach is cooperating fully with the local authorities, and the circumstances surrounding the incident are under review.”
Bus and coach collide
Elsewhere, nine children have been injured after a school coach and a bus crashed in Earley, Reading.
Eight adults from the bus also suffered minor injuries, as did the coach’s driver, the South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) said.
Two patients have been taken to the hospital for further treatment, it added, while three adults and three children are being assessed at the scene, and the remaining 10 patients have been discharged.
It was not known if the crash was related to the weather affecting the country.