A VILLAGE IN SHOCK - Floral tributes left at scene of crash

Police have released the minibus driver, arrested yesterday on suspicion of dangerous driving, on police bail. Another man was arrested in connection with the collision this morning.

All ten children on board the minibus lived in the village and were travelling to Newbridge Comprehensive School when the accident happened on Hafodyrynys Road.

Nine other children and two adults on board the minibus, and the female driver of a Skoda car involved in the collision, were also injured.

Seven of the children were released from Nevill Hall Hospital following treatment for minor injuries.

But one boy is still being treated for a broken pelvis and a girl has been transferred to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff for treatment to head injuries.

Barbara Howells, whose 13-year-old daughter Rebecca was travelling on the minibus, said: "When you look at the minibus it could have been all of them who were killed. "It would have been three quarters of the children in the village gone."

Flowers have been left near the crash scene. The first bouquet was from Jasmine's brother Karl.

The card read: "To Jasmine, I love you with all my heart and it is there you will stay with me forever. Rest in peace, lil' sis, love Karl xxx"

'IT WAS A MIRACLE ANY OF THEM LIVED'

POLICE this morning made a new arrest over the school minibus crash which claimed the life of 12-year-old Jasmine Allen.

A man is in custody helping police with their investigation.

Meanwhile, the minibus driver, who was arrested yesterday after the crash, has been released on police bail pending further inquiries.

Jasmine was on the minibus with nine other children from Hafodyrynys when it collided with a Skoda car yesterday morning and flipped on to its roof.

The children, and an adult helper, were making their way to Newbridge Comprehensive School when the accident happened on Hafodyrynys Road.

Relatives of the children who survived the crash say it is remarkable that anyone was able to walk away from the wreckage.

Cynthia Jones had three grandchildren who were on the minibus.

Two of them, 16-year-old Laura and David Jones, were released from hospital following treatment for cuts and bruises. Their 15-year-old brother, Craig, remains in Nevill Hall Hospital with a broken pelvis. Mrs Jones said: "It is just a terrible shock. My brother-in-law said how any of them come out alive is a miracle."

Barbara Howell's 13-year-old daughter, Rebecca, was one of the lucky ones.

She was released from Nevill Hall hospital in Abergavenny yesterday afternoon following treatment for minor cuts and bruises.

Mrs Howells said: "When you look at the minibus, it could have been all of them who were killed. It would have been three quarters of the children in the village gone.

"To have Rebecca alive is like winning the lottery. We will never be this lucky again.

"I feel so guilty to feel this grateful because one of the girls never made it and I feel absolutely terrible for her family.

"This is such a close-knit community and all the kids travel to school together. For one of them to be missing will be a constant reminder."

She added: "Rebecca is so upset by it all - she doesn't even want to be around the area at the moment and is spending some time at her friend's house."

Rebecca's grandfather, Dave Webb, said: "They were all friends together. She turned to Jasmine while inside the wreckage and said, 'Come on, Jasmine, move, move.'

"Rebecca is terribly shocked and just wants to be left alone."

Emergency services raced to the scene after the alarm was raised and passing motorists stopped to help and comfort the children.

Jasmine was taken to Newport's Royal Gwent Hospital where she later died.

The nine children, the two drivers and an adult were initially taken to Nevill Hall Hospital for treatment.

The children and the adults were released after being treated for minor injuries apart from Craig and another girl who has been transferred to the University of Wales Hospital in Cardiff for treatment to head injuries.

Police said the driver gave a negative breath test.

Inspector Fran Richley said it appeared the minbus was travelling down the hill when it collied with an oncoming Skoda Felicia.

The impact caused the minibus to overturn and left it lying upside down on the road.

'MOMENTS BEFORE, THEY SMILED AND WAVED'

THROUGHOUT the morning as details of the tragedy became clear shocked parents and family members of the nine injured children gathered at Nevill Hall Hospital.

There they waited anxiously for their loved ones to be treated.

Most had minor injuries such as cuts and bruises, but one girl was in intensive care with serious head injuries.

She is now being treated at the University of Wales Hospital, Cardiff. One shocked relative, an uncle to three of the injured who asked not to be named, described his astonishment as the horrific news spread through the tiny community of Hafodyrynys.

He said: "What shocked me most was that it was them it had happened to."

"I had driven past where the minibus was parked a few moments before on the way to get my paper.

"They all smiled and waved; they're all local kids. A couple of minutes later I was on my way back and I saw the police and emergency services. I couldn't believe it.

"The response of the emergency services was fantastic. Within minutes there were police, ambulances and a helicopter was overhead."

Another relative, who asked not to be named, said shocked children had described how they had to climb out of windows to escape the wreckage of the minibus, which had ended up on its roof.

As parents heard the tragic news, they had the difficult task of telling their children they had lost a friend.

Others were given the news by specialist counsellors.

An aunt to three of the injured children said: "They are all from the same village. They are beautiful children. I don't know how they will cope with this."

HELPERS PRAISED

MOTORISTS stopped to help and comfort the injured children after yesterday's minibus accident.

Station Officer Tim Needs, of South Wales Fire Service, said the "excellent" aid offered by those passing by had enabled his fire crews to concentrate on getting on with what they had to do.

"We got the call at about 8.15am and the first crews on the scene saw the minibus on its roof and the other vehicle 30 to 40 yards further up," he said.

Two fire engines and a rescue tender were called to the scene, as well as five ambulances.

"It was a very traumatic scene," he said.

"There were children with facial injuries and cuts and bruises, and they were in shock.

"Thankfully, a lot of passers-by had stopped to help and were sitting with them.

"This aided us in doing the job we had to do."