On the morning of June 26, 2025, a routine college bus journey turned into a terrifying ordeal for students of Barton Peveril Sixth Form College when their double-decker Bluestar bus crashed into the River Itchen near Eastleigh, Hampshire. The incident unfolded at approximately 10:07 AM on Bishopstoke Road, where the bus smashed through railings and plunged into a shallow offshoot of the river, leaving nearly 20 children injured and emergency services scrambling to the scene.
The bus, known as College Bus 607, was ferrying 19 students to Barton Peveril College when the driver suddenly lost control. According to local resident Kelly West, who witnessed the crash, the driver told her the brakes failed and the accelerator jammed, forcing him to weave through traffic in a desperate attempt to avoid collisions before the vehicle careened off the road and into the water.
Freddie Sampson, an 18-year-old student who was sitting at the front of the bus's top deck, described the harrowing moments leading up to the crash. "We ran into a lamp-post and the whole windscreen shattered," he recalled. "It was like we couldn’t stop and had to weave through traffic trying not to hit any cars and then the bus driver lost control - we went flying into the river. It was all a bit manic. No-one really knew what was going on. I looked out the front to see people moving out of the way, like cars out the front… I looked round... they were all confused and scared."
The immediate aftermath saw a massive emergency response. South Central Ambulance Service dispatched five ambulances, two helicopters, and specialist response units to the scene. Fire crews from Eastleigh, St Mary's, Redbridge, Hightown, and Portchester joined the effort, working alongside paramedics and police to rescue passengers. The River Itchen area near Bishopstoke Road was cordoned off, and Bishopstoke Road itself was closed between Chickenhall Lane and the Esso garage, with closures expected to last up to 12 hours due to the complex recovery operation.
Emergency personnel faced the challenge of evacuating students from a submerged double-decker bus, many trapped inside when they arrived. Inspector Andy Tester of Hampshire Constabulary praised the bravery of passers-by who rushed to assist despite lacking formal training or equipment for water rescues. "There was a lot of bravery shown by many people who were first on scene," he said, emphasizing the swift support from trained fire and ambulance crews that made the environment safe for rescue operations.
In total, 17 people were injured—three classified as 'high priority' and rushed to hospital, including the bus driver and two passengers. Four others, including the driver, were taken to hospital, with two reported to be in serious but not life-threatening condition. The remaining 14 individuals received treatment at the scene for less severe injuries. Parents anxiously gathered at an Incident Centre established at The Hub on Bishopstoke Road, where college staff and police officers provided updates and support. Authorities urged parents not to approach the crash site itself to avoid complicating emergency efforts.
Among the parents waiting for news was Scott Agass, whose 17-year-old son was on the bus. He described his son’s shock and confusion: "He said he was sitting there with a blanket and a monitor on his finger. He doesn’t really know what happened or what caused it. I suppose it just happened so quick. All he saw was that it crashed and gone in the river." Another parent reported her daughter was "banged up" and bruised but reassured that she was okay, though likely in shock.
Barton Peveril Sixth Form College confirmed the involvement of its students and expressed deep concern for their well-being. A spokesperson said, "We are aware of an incident involving the College 607 Bus. College staff are working closely with the police to ensure the safety and well-being of all students. We ask that people do not attend the actual scene. For concerned parents, an Incident Centre has been established at The Hub at Bishopstoke. An officer and college staff will be available at the Hub to provide updates and address any questions you may have."
Bluestar, the bus company operating the College 607 service, expressed sympathy and confirmed it was investigating the incident. General Manager Richard Tyldsley stated, "Reports suggest the bus left the highway and came to rest in a shallow river. There were 19 passengers on-board at the time. Our driver and at least two of the passengers have confirmed injuries, and we are awaiting further updates on the status of others on-board. We do not currently have full details of their injuries and are following their progress closely. Our thoughts are with everybody involved, and we wish those who were injured a full and speedy recovery. At this time, we do not know the circumstances behind this incident and are carrying out an immediate investigation. We are also assisting the police as they carry out their own inquiries."
The crash occurred at a spot with a grim history. Just meters away from where the bus plunged into the water lies the site of a fatal accident in June 2001, when a 25-year-old local man lost control of his car on the same bend opposite the River Inn car park. His vehicle crashed through cast iron railings and came to rest in three feet of water, resulting in his death despite rescue efforts. This haunting echo adds an additional layer of concern and scrutiny to the current investigation.
Traffic disruption was severe in the aftermath, with long tailbacks reported on surrounding roads as emergency and recovery operations continued. Police escorted a crane truck to the scene to assist with the complex task of removing the bus from the river, a process expected to take several hours.
Authorities continue to investigate the exact cause of the crash. At present, there is no definitive explanation, though the driver's account of brake failure and a jammed accelerator is a critical lead. Inspector Tester emphasized, "There's no indication at the moment as to why the bus left the road, and that is what's going to form part of our immediate investigation." He also reassured that all passengers had been accounted for and that families had been notified.
This incident has shaken the Eastleigh community, highlighting the risks inherent even in everyday travel. Yet, amid the chaos, the courage of bystanders and the swift, coordinated response of emergency services prevented what could have been a far worse tragedy. As recovery work proceeds and the investigation unfolds, the focus remains on the injured students' recovery and supporting their families through this distressing time.
