A petition has been launched to knight a bus driver who crashed into a river.

The driver of the Bluestar College 607 bus, carrying 19 Barton Peveril College students, was hospitalised with serious injuries after the vehicle lost control and plunged into the River Itchen on June 26.

A teenage girl was also seriously injured, while 15 other passengers suffered minor injuries.

The bus driver reportedly told a witness that the "accelerator was jammed".

READ MORE: Hampshire inspector praises response to Eastleigh bus crash

Now, a petition, started by Harry Burgess, calls for the driver to receive recognition for his actions.

Mr Burgess said: "Multiple lives could have been lost had the bus continued on its rampage.

"But the anonymous driver thought quickly, and did the only thing that made sense, driving his bus into the River Itchen, and saving many lives in the process

"Let's finally come together as a country and do something right for a change."

The petition, on change.org, has received 74 signatures.