Eight people were injured after a coach carrying more than 50 high school pupils from Germany was involved in a collision in the eastern Netherlands early Monday, Dutch police said.
The crash happened near Wezep, around 100 kilometres east of Amsterdam, at approximately 4am local time.
The incident involved the coach and a delivery van, with the van’s driver among those injured.
Several victims taken to hospital
Dutch police in Gelderland province said all eight injured people were taken to hospital for treatment.
Authorities said some of those transported to hospital sustained serious injuries, while other people involved in the crash suffered minor injuries.
The full extent of the injuries among the pupils and other passengers was not immediately clear.
Coach was carrying more than 50 people
A police spokesperson said more than 50 people were travelling on the coach when it collided with the delivery vehicle.
The circumstances surrounding the collision were still being examined, with authorities expected to establish how the two vehicles came to crash on the highway.
The incident raised an immediate emergency response given the number of passengers aboard the school coach.
A28 highway closed in both directions
The crash also caused major disruption on the A28 highway, which was closed in both directions following the collision.
Emergency services attended the scene as injured people were transported to medical facilities.
The road closure was put in place to allow emergency operations and the authorities’ initial response to proceed safely.
Investigation into the crash continues
Dutch authorities have not yet provided further details about what caused the collision beyond confirming that the coach and delivery van were involved.
Investigators will now work to establish the precise circumstances of the crash, including the events leading up to the early morning collision.
The incident involved a large group of German school pupils travelling in the Netherlands, with the focus initially remaining on treating those injured and securing the crash site.
