Emergency services rushed to the scene of a serious school bus crash in Kent on Wednesday morning, after the vehicle slid off the road on treacherous black ice.
Double-Decker Bus Leaves Road in Ashford
Police were called shortly after 8am on Wednesday 7 January 2026 to Chilmington Green in Ashford, Kent. Pictures from the scene showed a Stagecoach double-decker bus nose-first in a ditch at the side of the road. The Kent Fire and Rescue Service stated the bus was believed to have "slipped" off the road due to black ice.
A spokesperson for Kent Police confirmed: "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."
Stagecoach Launches Review and Issues Safety Reminder
Stagecoach South East has confirmed the incident involving one of its school buses is under review. Managing director Joel Mitchell 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."
Fire crews used the incident to issue a stark warning to all drivers. In a statement, they urged motorists to use extra caution in cold temperatures, warning of potential black ice. They advised avoiding sudden braking and leaving plenty of space between vehicles.
Second Crash in Reading Injures Nine Children
In a separate incident on the same day, nine children were injured after a school coach and a bus collided in Reading, Berkshire. The South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) confirmed that eight adults from the bus also suffered minor injuries, along with the coach driver.
Two patients were taken to hospital for further treatment. It is not yet known if weather conditions played a role in this second crash. The SCAS attended the scene alongside other emergency services.
These back-to-back incidents have highlighted the dangers posed by winter road conditions for school transport. Authorities continue to investigate the exact causes of both crashes while reminding the public of the importance of vigilant driving during cold snaps.
