**Tragic Loss as 10-Year-Old Dies in Somerset School Coach Crash – Community Mourns and Inquest Opens**
A ten-year-old boy has tragically died from head injuries following a coach crash while returning home from a school trip to Exmoor Zoo, an inquest in Somerset has heard. The heartbreaking incident, which has shaken the local community, occurred when the coach transporting students and staff from Minehead Middle School left the A396 at Cutcombe Hill near Minehead and rolled down a steep embankment.
The crash took place at approximately 3.15pm on 17 July, just days before the end of the summer term. The vehicle was carrying between 60 and 70 pupils and educators at the time. After leaving the road between Wheddon Cross and Timberscombe, the coach overturned and came to rest about 20 feet down a slope.
Immediate action was taken by an off-duty firefighter who happened to be travelling behind the coach, managing to begin assisting passengers trapped inside before emergency teams arrived on the scene. The seriousness of the accident was underscored by the subsequent inquest opening at Somerset Coroner’s Court, held at Wells Town Hall, where it was confirmed that Oliver Price, aged 10, suffered fatal head injuries during the incident.
Assistant coroner Vanessa McKinlay shared evidence from the coroner’s officer, Ben Batley, confirming Oliver’s identity and circumstances surrounding his untimely death. “He was aged 10 at the time of his death and he was a student,” stated Mr Batley. The paramedic on the scene confirmed Oliver’s death at 5pm. It was also revealed that Oliver was found still seated in the vehicle, with his seatbelt fastened—a sad detail highlighting that despite safety precautions, tragic outcomes can still occur.
The opening hearing was brief, attended only by media, and concluded with the scheduling of a full inquest into the tragedy for 14 January next year. Ms McKinlay explained that the future hearing would include testimonies from those who were on the coach, the driver, and technical experts. The inquest aims to uncover the events that preceded the crash, the cause of the coach leaving the road, and clarify the exact medical reason for Oliver’s death.
In the wake of the tragedy, the local community has rallied around those affected. Emotional scenes unfolded as children laid flowers at the gates of Minehead Middle School. Headteacher Laura Mackie paid tribute to Oliver, describing him as “a brilliant young life,” and spoke of the profound effect his loss has had on students, staff, and families associated with the school. In a moving statement, she emphasised the school’s commitment to supporting its community in the difficult days ahead, focusing on a compassionate and careful approach as they navigate an unimaginable loss.
The impact of the accident has extended beyond the walls of the school, with significant fundraising efforts underway. The Somerset Community Foundation launched the Together for West Somerset appeal, raising over £90,000 to offer support—both financial and psychological—to those affected. One local fundraiser, Bobbie Rammond, who collected £36,000, reflected on the collective grief and affirmed that all funds will be distributed transparently to those who need them most.
Foundation chief executive Justin Sargent reiterated the charity’s commitment to ensuring not only immediate help but also longer-term support for families, staff, and pupils dealing with the traumatic aftermath. The recovery and investigation into the coach itself will continue, with vehicle examiners conducting in-depth assessments to establish if mechanical, environmental, or other factors were a contributing factor.
A number of other children involved in the crash were discharged from hospital over the weekend, although two children and three adults remain under medical care. The wider response has been one of solidarity and reflection, indicative of a community determined to support each other through this period of mourning and recovery.
As details continue to emerge, and the full inquest approaches, Somerset remains united in grief while searching for answers that can prevent such a tragedy from ever repeating. The loss of young Oliver Price will undoubtedly leave a lasting imprint on all those who knew him, and the wider Somerset community.