Girl’s death in Tadcaster Grammar School minibus crash ‘devastating’

The death of a teenage girl in a minibus crash near a school has been described as “really devastating” by a councilor.

Just before 12:30 GMT on Monday, a Hyundai i10 and her were involved in a collision on Tolston Lane near Tadcaster Grammar School, police said, adding that a girl, one of nine passengers aged between 16 and 18, was also traveling in the vehicle.

Kirsty Poskitt, who represents Tadcaster on North Yorkshire Council, described the girl’s death as an “unimaginable tragedy”.

The minibus, which ended up on its side, was removed overnight and the road is still closed while the investigation continues. Police said a 40-year-old woman has been arrested in connection with the investigation.

According to a spokesman for North Yorkshire Police, the minibus, a white Mercedes Sprinter, was heading towards Sherburn when a light-coloured Hyundai i10 entered Tolston Lane from Rudgate Junction.

He confirmed that the girl died at the scene.

Another teenage girl was taken to hospital by ambulance with serious injuries not believed to be life-threatening, while other passengers and the man driving the minibus received hospital treatment for minor injuries.

Poskitt said it was “an incredibly sad day for our city”.

“I would like to join others in expressing my heartfelt condolences to the youth involved in today’s tragic accident and to the family of the young girl who died, you are in my thoughts,” she said.

“The loss of any life is a tragic time but to have a life ended so soon is truly devastating.”

The Reverend Ann Fox of Tadcaster Methodist Church said the place of worship would be open for services from 10:00am to 11:30am following the news.

“It’s really terrible and we pray for the girl’s families and friends and the school.

“For the emergency services, they do an amazing job and we thank them because this must have been distressing for them.”

Posting on social media, Sir Alec Shelbrooke, MP for Wetherby and Easingwold, described the news as “extremely sad”.

A police spokesman appealed for witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage to contact them.

In a message sent to parents, Tadcaster Grammar School said it would be closed on Tuesday because the site “will not be safe for students”.