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The Land Rover Discovery, in which the young boy was injured, in London Road after the coach hit the car at the rear.

A SEVEN-year-old boy is fighting for his life after a Bodmans coach hit the car he was travelling in.

The boy was airlifted by the Wiltshire Air Ambulance to the Royal United Hospital in Bath following the collision in London Road, Devizes, on Monday evening.

Police said the boy was later transferred to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol where yesterday (Wednesday) his condition was described as critical. Police have not said where the boy is from.

The boy was in the rear of a Land Rover Discovery which had stopped behind another vehicle that was waiting to turn right into Devizes Sports Club.

Traffic officer PC John Armstrong said a coach following behind the Land Rover Discovery failed to stop and pushed the Discovery into the rear of the stopped vehicle.

The Bodmans coach had no passengers on board and was returning to its base at Worton after working in Swindon.

John Hallett, transport manager at Bodmans, said: "There is an ongoing investigation into the accident by the police and the Ministry of Transport and the coach has been taken away for examination.

"The driver has been suspended on full pay but we place no blame on his shoulders. Suspending him is normal procedure in a situation like this until the outcome of the investigation."

Mr Hallett would not give any details about the driver but said: "The driver was shattered and very distraught about the child being injured.

"Obviously our thoughts are with the family of the child and anyone else who was injured. Our main concern is the welfare of the child."

London Road residents David and Nina Lamb comforted the coach driver at the scene of the accident.

Mr Lamb, 75, said: "The coach driver was crying his eyes out, he was seriously shocked and very upset.

"The child was bleeding badly and we think there were other children in the Land Rover."

The accident happened at 5.58pm on Monday and the road, was closed until 11pm.

9:22am Thursday 8th May 2008

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