The quick-thinking driver was able to pull onto the hard shoulder of the M6 and help the 59 children and
seven teachers off – moments before the explosion.
Paramedics assessed 13 children and the driver for smoke inhalation, and though four ten-year-old girls were taken to hospital, they were later discharged.
Traffic was brought to a standstill for hours after the incident on Monday while emergency services cleared the debris left behind.
This was left behind (Picture: West Midlands Ambulance Service/PA Wire)
After the blaze, another driver loaded the passengers onto his coach and took them to a nearby museum where a replacement bus picked them up.
A crane was used to remove the burnt-out coach once the fire had been tackled.
‘Thankfully the 59 children and seven staff on board, who come from the Black Country, were safely sitting on a second coach that had stopped to offer assistance.
‘The Trust would like to pay tribute to the Eavesway Travel of Wigan coach driver who spotted the issue, stopped at the side of the motorway and helped evacuate the children.
‘He then kept them and their teachers safe on his coach while firefighters dealt with the blaze.
‘He then took them to the Motorcycle Museum where they were meeting up with a replacement coach to take them on their way.
‘This could clearly have been a much more serious incident but for the quick actions of the coach drivers, teachers and children.’
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