Man dies and seven children hurt in pile-up on school trip

A MAN was killed and seven children on a school trip were taken to hospital after a three-vehicle smash.

The man, who was in his fifties, died at the scene yesterday afternoon, after two cars were in collision with a minibus carrying the pupils in Kirkcaldy, Fife.

The S2 pupils from Kirkland High School and Community College in Methil were taken, along with another woman, to the town's Victoria Hospital, where they were treated for injuries and shock.

One pupil was transferred to Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline for treatment to facial injuries.

Ronnie Ross, the school's headteacher, said: "We were all really shocked to hear that seven of our S2 pupils were involved in a road traffic accident today. The pupils had been visiting Adam Smith College in Kirkcaldy.

"Thankfully, none of them were seriously injured, although they were all taken to hospital to be checked out and have all now been discharged.

"There were some minor injuries, including cuts and bruises, and obviously some were in shock. One pupil was transferred to Queen Margaret Hospital with injuries to the mouth and face. All parents were notified very quickly.

"We will be offering counselling to them when they return to school."

Two fire appliances, an emergency tender and three ambulances went to the scene of the accident. Cutting equipment was used to free one of the occupants of the cars.

A Fife police spokesman said the pupils had not been seriously injured. Inspector Brenda Sinclair, deputy head of road policing, said: "The collision took place around 2:50pm this afternoon on Victoria Road, Kirkcaldy, near its junction with Mitchell Street, at the car wash, and involved a Jaguar motor car, a Renault Clio and a minibus carrying schoolchildren.

"Unfortunately, a man in his fifties was confirmed by ambulance to have died at the scene. His identity is being withheld until next of kin have been notified.

"A woman and seven schoolchildren were all conveyed to Victoria Hospital for injuries and shock, none of which are serious.

"The road was closed for several hours to allow an accident investigation to be carried out, but I would appeal to any witnesses who may have seen a blue Jaguar motor car, red Renault Clio or white minibus prior to the collision, or who witnessed the collision, to contact Fife police."

The victim will not be named by police until his family have been notified.