Bus driver saves pupils from bridge collapse

A quick thinking bus driver may have prevented a serious accident when he noticed a bridge which he was driving a minibus of school children onto, start to collapse.

62 year old Derek Trow was taking pupils home from Lindridge St Lawrence CE Primary School in Tenbury Wells, when the incident happened. Whilst crossing the River Teme via Eastham Bridge, which was built over 200 years ago, he noticed the road ahead of him give way. He signalled to the bus behind him to reverse and backed his own vehicle up before the road collapsed, leaving a drop of
about ten feet.

He commented, ‘There was an almighty row and the apex collapsed leaving a drop of
about 10ft. We would have gone down there. We were lucky. I’ve been driving buses for about 17 years and that’s where your training kicks in. You just do it.’

Worcestershire County Council said the bridge was routinely inspected last December but because it is listed, repairs will take at least a year to carry out. An investigation is underway.