Children crawl free through windscreen after bus crash in Hereford Coach plunged several feet down an embankment and flipped over 53 children were on board the bus and 26 were taken to hospital Children climbed through the shattered windscreen before calling 999 Woman driver in intensive care after suffering chest and abdominal injuries Six pupils were taken to hospital by ambulance after crash at around 8.20am Teachers took other casualties with minor injuries to hospital in their cars Children had been on their way to two schools when coach overturned Pupils 'claimed bus had pulled onto verge to avoid a passing lorry' Police investigating whether another vehicle was involved in the crash More than 20 children, have been treated in hospital after their bus veered down an embankment and overturned on the way to school. The brave children managed to crawl out of the coach via the broken windscreen, before calling 999 after the accident near the village of Holme Lacy, just outside Hereford, shortly after 8.20am today. The woman coach driver was reportedly being treated in intensive care this afternoon, while 26 of the 53 passengers, school pupils aged around 14, were taken to Hereford County Hospital to receive treatment for cuts and bruising. Crash: 26 children have been taken to hospital after their bus veered down an embankment and overturned on the way to school, leaving the driver in intensive care due to her injuries Brave: The children managed to crawl out of the coach via the broken windscreen, before calling 999 after the accident near the village of Holme Lacy, just outside Hereford, shortly after 8.20am today Another vehicle? A spokesman from bus operator PW Jones Coaches, said the children had claimed the bus had pulled over onto a verge to avoid an oncoming lorry, that had not stopped after the crash The driver had to be freed by ambulance and fire crews after she became trapped in the overturned vehicle. She was also taken to hospital where she is being treated her for chest and abdominal injuries. A spokesman from bus operator PW Jones Coaches, said witnesses claimed the bus had gone over the embankment after pulling over onto a verge to avoid an oncoming lorry, that had not stopped after the crash. 'A coach that was carrying schoolchildren went off the road and the children are saying that a lorry was involved and didn't stop,' she said. The coach had pulled over to stop on a grass verge and it gave way. The spokesman said the bus driver was being treated in intensive care. Philip Jones, the owner of PW Jones Luxury Coach Holidays, said the crash was a 'horrendous situation'. He added: 'I would like to state that the coach is in first class condition and there was no problem with the coach or anything like that. Emergency: The driver had to be freed by ambulance and fire crews after she became trapped in the vehicle School run: The children had been on their way to St Mary's Roman Catholic High School and Bishop of Hereford's Bluecoat School when it overturned near the village of Holme Lacy, outside Hereford The verge actually collapsed when the coach pulled up. We are very concerned about the children. I did attend the accident myself and went into the school. We just want the driver to get well. She's an excellent driver and has never had any accidents throughout all the time she's been driving with us - around 20 years.' Police are investigating the possibility that another vehicle was involved in the crash. 'Officers attended the scene with West Midlands Ambulance Service and Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service,' said a spokesman from West Mercia Police. A total of 53 school children were on board and 21 of them were taken to Hereford County Hospital from the scene, along with the female bus driver. Scene: The white and blue bus can be seen lying on its left-hand side just yards from the road as recovery workers prepare to remove it from the roadside Injuries: West Mercia Police said that 53 children were on board the bus when it crashed. Of them, 21 were taken to hospital from the scene, and another five attended later The police investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collision continues and the involvement of another vehicle is currently being investigated. Some 42 children were travelling to St Mary's Roman Catholic High School, and four were going to nearby Bishop of Hereford's Bluecoat School, a comprehensive secondary. West Mercia Police said that 53 children were on board the bus when it crashed. Of them, 21 were taken to hospital from the scene, and another five attended later. 'A small number of children have been taken to hospital and the others have been reunited with their parents,' said a St Mary's spokesman. Headteacher of Bishop Of Hereford's Bluecoat School, Sara Catlow-Hawkins, said: 'All of them were shaken and some had suffered cuts and bruises. Some were able to leave with their parents while others were treated in hospital. Events: A spokesman from bus operator PW Jones Coaches, said children on board had claimed the bus had gone over the embankment after pulling over onto a verge to avoid a lorry She added: 'The students responded brilliantly, they were sensible and they supported each other. Both schools had staff on the site very quickly who were immensely professional as were the emergency services. The students are all safe and accounted for and most are at home now with family. A few have gone to casualty. As far as we understand the driver is in a critical condition. Both schools are putting out letters to parents in which we offer prayers for the driver. Both schools are putting out letters to parents in which we offer prayers for the driver Bishop Of Hereford's Bluecoat School headteacher, Sara Catlow-Hawkins In a statement to parents on the school's website, Ms Catlow-Hawkins said the coach had been 'forced' to veer off the road and had ended up in a field. 'The emergency services attended and were superb in their care and attention to our youngsters,' she said. Both schools sent staff immediately to meet the students at the scene and they accompanied the children to hospital. Incidents like this are very worrying but fortunately very rare. Sadly the driver was seriously injured and our prayers go out to her and her family. Anyone who is affected by the events will be offered further support and counselling. I wanted to let you know as I am sure there will be a lot of rumours and I wanted to be sure that you had the facts, as we understand them. We are all very grateful that the accident was not even more serious than it was. Pictures taken at the scene show the white and blue bus lying on its left-hand side just yards from the road. In other images the front and back windscreens appear to have been removed with some pupils bags left scattered in the mud. Some 42 children were travelling to St Mary's Roman Catholic High School, above, when the bus crashed 'Praying': Another four teenagers were going to nearby Bishop of Hereford's Bluecoat School. Headteacher Sara Catlow-Hawkins said letters had been sent to pupils offering prayers for the driver Paramedics treated the youngsters at the scene before six of the pupils were taken to Hereford County Hospital by ambulance. Other pupils who had suffered minor injuries such as cuts and bruises were taken to the same hospital by teachers, who arrived at the crash site, in their own cars. A second bus was then sent to the rural scene to transport the uninjured children back to their schools. David Hodges, 45, whose 13-year-old son was not on board but attends St Mary's School, said: 'The crash has shocked a lot of people but apparently some of the kids called an ambulance themselves after crawling out of the coach. 'If if wasn't for them acting so quickly it could have been ages before anyone found them. It's a miracle no one was more seriously hurt. Hopefully the driver will be ok. Seven ambulances, a paramedic area support officer, two senior paramedic officers and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Strensham were sent to the scene. 'Crews arrived to find a bus at the bottom of an embankment lying on its left-hand side,' said a West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman. Treatment: The woman coach driver was reportedly being treated in intensive care this afternoon at the Hereford County Hospital after she suffered chest and abdominal injuries 'All of the passengers on board had managed to get out of the bus before the crew's arrival. However, the woman driving was trapped for a period of time. With the assistance of the fire service, the woman was extricated and treated for chest and abdominal injuries. She was immobilised using a neck collar and spinal board before being conveyed to Hereford County Hospital. The passengers, all of whom are believed to be pupils of approximately 14 years of age, were triaged by ambulance staff at the scene. Six of them were also taken to Hereford County Hospital by ambulance. A second bus was sent to the scene to help transport approximately 20 uninjured pupils back to their school. A senior paramedic officer travelled on board the bus with the children. A further 19 patients, who had suffered a range of minor injuries such as cuts and bruising, were taken to the same hospital for further triage by other means of transport. A doctor for the Mercia Accident Rescue Service was also sent but diverted to the hospital to assist with triage of casualties as they arrived at A&E. Those children not taken to hospital have been reunited with their parents back at their schools. Four fire engines, including an ultra-heavy rescue vehicle, were also sent to the scene to help rescue the trapped female driver. Hereford and Worcester Fire Service group commanded Guy Palmer said: 'As is so often the case, we have been working closely with our colleagues from West Mercia Police and West Midlands Ambulance Service to deal with the situation. Firefighters also helped with first aid for the many children at the scene and we will stay at the site of the crash to assist with the recovery of the bus.