- Did you witness the accident? Email matthew.lodge@mailonline.co.uk
Thirteen people, including children, have been rushed to hospital after a tractor wrecked a school bus full of people in a terrifying accident.
The farm vehicle collided with the double-decker bus in the Kent village of Meopham on Wednesday afternoon.
The incident, which took place around 3.25pm, caused extensive damage to the bus and photos shared on social media showed that the upper deck of the vehicle had been cut.
The photos also show a tractor believed to have been involved in the nearby accident with its blade raised in the air.
The South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAMB) says one person was airlifted to Kings College Hospital after the crash, while 12 others were taken to local hospitals and four were discharged at the scene.
Photos posted on social media show the upper deck of the bus was destroyed in the collision.
A tractor with its blade raised was seen near the accident site, which is believed to have been involved in the collision.
Kent Police have confirmed that several people on the bus, including children, were among those injured.
The accident took place on the A227 South Street near Culverstone Green shortly after the end of the school day.
Several emergency services, including police, fire, paramedics and air ambulance, were called after reports of several injuries.
In a statement, Kent Police said: ‘Officers investigating a serious collision involving a bus and a tractor near Meopham are seeking dashcam and phone footage.
Police attended the scene, which was near the Chapman’s Hill junction, along with paramedics, an air ambulance and Kent Fire and Rescue Service.
‘The incident is being investigated by Kent Police’s Serious Collision Unit (SCIU) and officers are appealing for witnesses to contact them.
“This includes those who may have footage on their phones and drivers with potential evidence on their dashboard cameras.”
SEACAMB confirmed earlier in the day that it had sent “multiple resources” to the crash site.
Multiple emergency services were called to the scene in Meopham, Kent, on Wednesday afternoon.
In an update to his X account this afternoon he said: ‘Following a serious collision between a bus and a tractor near Meopham at approximately 3.30pm today (22/05).
‘We treated and transferred 12 patients to local hospitals. One patient was airlifted to Kings College Hospital and four other injured people were discharged at the scene.
MailOnline has contacted Kent Police for further information.
Anyone who can help with the investigation is asked to call SCIU on 01622 798538 or email sciu.td@kent.police.uk quoting reference EX/DGC/051/24.
