A YOUNG mother, her daughter and a female friend who died after their car and a bus collided head-on at the weekend have been identified.

The tragedy has devastated pupils and staff at Woodlands School at Tonbridge who are preparing for the end-of-term.

Clarissa Underwood, seven, was a Year 2 pupil in the infants’ school at Woodlands. Her mother, Hayley Bradbury, 29, was driving the car and a friend, Mandy Page, 28, also a parent, was a front-seat passenger.

Suzi Morgan, head of Woodlands Infants’ School, said: “It was with the greatest sadness that we learned of this loss. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families.”

All three were in a green Mazda saloon heading out of Maidstone towards Teston on the A26 Tonbridge Road on Saturday shortly before 2pm when the tragedy happened.

The car was in collision with a single-decker Arriva bus as it rounded a bend, near the junction with Teston Lane.

Emergency services, including Kent Air Ambulance, were called in, with fire crews using special hoists to lift the bus from the vehicle.

Clarissa’s body was only discovered when firefighters cut away the side of the car. Both Clarissa and Mandy Page were pronounced dead at the scene.

Clarissa’s mother was cut from the wreckage and taken by ambulance to Maidstone Hospital. She died on Sunday afternoon.

Five people on the bus, including the driver, suffered minor injuries and shock. An investigation has been launched.

Sub Officer Givralur Occa, from Maidstone Fire Station, said: “It was a nasty incident on what is a notorious bend. I can think of three of four accidents on that stretch in the past 10 years."

Anyone who saw the crash is asked to call PC Guy Ditcher on 01622 600965.