A CHILD was amongst the casualties after a coach overturned and crashed into a ditch on the southbound carriageway of the M5 near Cam.

The coach was near full capacity when it was carrying 53 passengers from a children’s charity in West Brom to Weston-super-Mare for a day trip before the incident occurred just before 10am on Tuesday, August 19.

It is believed the vehicle hit the barrier on the side of the road before overturning and sinking its rear end into the adjacent ditches.

Seven passengers and the driver suffered injuries, one of which was a child who suffered a fractured leg in the crash and was rushed to Bristol Children’s Hospital, while the adults were taken to Southmead Hospital.

A Gloucestershire Police spokesman said: "Seven passengers have received minor injuries, not believed to be life-threatening or life-changing, and the driver has a suspected back injury, but is conscious.

"Transport is being laid on to convey the passengers from the scene. Ambulances were called to the scene to treat injured passengers.”

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Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue spokeswoman Sarah Woods said there were ten classed as “walking wounded” and 36 uninjured passengers.

“As well as two air ambulances we sent our special incident unit and three fire engines, one from Stroud and two from Gloucester,” she said.

“We made the scene safe and isolated the battery on the coach.

“We believe the passengers managed to get themselves out of the vehicle.”

Sergeant Martyn Murawa was coordinating the police’s response to the incident.

Speaking to the Gazette at the scene, he confirmed it was a single vehicle involved.

“It was a children’s charity trip to Weston-super-Mare which was picked up from West Brom,” he said.

“One of the children received a fracture to his leg.

“No cause has been established yet, the investigation is still ongoing.”

A 60-year-old mechanic who lives near the accident site, who asked to remain anonymous, said he had heard a loud noise from his garden.

“I heard this loud bang and moments later heard some screaming and then saw all the traffic pulling up on the motorway,” he said.

“It was really quite loud, like a lorry going on its side and along the road, that’s what it sounded like.

“It worried me to have seen that.”

More details to follow.