Coach crash probe goes on as road is reopened

A ROAD has finally reopened after a coach crash involving 72 people.

The Peterborough-registered coach, which was carrying migrant workers from a day trip to Alton Towers, hit two parked cars, smashed through a wall and plunged 15 feet down an embankment off Station Road, Alton, just before 6pm on Monday.

Two cranes, one low-loader, a recovery van and a heavy recovery accident unit were used to lift the coach back onto the road at 9pm last night. Station Road was reopened shortly before midnight

A 26-year-old Polish man died as a result of the accident. His family has been informed and his name will be revealed as soon as formal identification has taken place.

A 21-year-old Polish woman remains in a life-threatening condition at The University Hospital of North Staffordshire. The 63-year-old driver is in a critical condition in the same hospital.

All the passengers were from Luttons Fruit Farm, in Oundle, near Peterborough. They included 28 Poles, three Slovakians, four Latvians, nine Bulgarians, nine Romanians, 17 Lithuanians and a South African.

Anne Long, aged 79, who runs Luttons with her husband and three of her four children said the farm was shocked at what had happened.

She said: "All of the people in the coach are workers on our farm. They had a day off to go to Alton Towers. They do this kind of thing quite often."

Chief Inspector John Maddox, of Staffordshire Police, said: "The variety of nationalities paints a picture of the difficulties we encountered with language barriers.

"We would like to thank the people living near the scene and the wider Alton community, who have shown tremendous spirit in offering shelter and comfort to all those involved.

"Many rallied round on Monday night to help those involved in the crash and give support to residents evacuated from their homes, most of whom could not return until the coach was removed."

Specialist police teams are now carrying out site investigations.

A senior investigating officer from Staffordshire Police has been appointed, and forensic officers are also continuing their investigations.

Dozens of officials spent yesterday gathering evidence and making inquiries.

In the morning police officers guarded the cordoned-off area while members of Staffordshire Police's collision investigation unit, forensics, and representatives from the Vehicle And Operator Services Agency (VOSA) examined the scene and assessed whether the bridge over the River Churnet could withstand the weight of a vehicle recovery truck.

At around 1.30pm a team from Mansfield Recovery Service turned up to begin its own assessments.

Terri Peachey was at home with her nine-year-old son Connor Willis when the bus crashed into their garden. The 30-year-old was forced to spend the night sleeping in her van in the car park at Tesco, in Meir, along with Connor and her dad, Brian, aged 57. They were evacuated from their home around six hours after the accident happened.

She said: "When the coach crashed, it sounded like a bolt of lightning.

"We were inside at the time and we looked out the window and saw what I can only describe as a bus flying through the air.

"It was very shocking. There were people and broken glass everywhere. I tried to help out as much as I could by providing blankets and just being there if I was needed."

The Peachey family was taken to a neighbour's house at around 9pm. At midnight everyone was evacuated as a precaution because fuel was leaking from the wrecked coach.

Miss Peachey said: "It was so late at night that we didn't really have chance to make any proper sleeping arrangements. So we grabbed some quilts and got in the van, and parked up at Tesco overnight.

"The car park was well-lit, and we didn't want to be anywhere too remote.

"Our neighbours went up the road to stay with relatives, but we've not long been in the area so we didn't really have anyone we could call on at that time of night.

"I've not really thought about the damage that was caused. I know the shed was crushed by the bus, and so was our old red truck which was parked on the driveway.

"My car was also destroyed, as that was parked on the road next to where the bus went through the wall.

"Luckily the house wasn't touched, as we were inside at the time. If you say, 'What if we'd been in the car, or what if we'd been in the garden?', it could totally destroy you."

She added: "You just have to be thankful that we were all OK, and that the majority of the people on the coach were OK – because it could have been a lot worse."

Anne Ford, who owns Alton Bridge Hotel opposite the scene, said: "We have lived here for 23 years and this is the first accident of this size.

"I think there should be traffic lights or speed bumps, or some form of traffic calming. If there had not been a shortcut to the local primary school when my children were growing up, I would have been terrified of walking them up the main road. It has been a terrible tragedy. It has been horrendous.

Russell Barnes, divisional director at Alton Towers, said: “What happened on Monday night was a tragic accident and we would like to express our sympathy to those who were injured, and to the family of the man who died.

“I am hugely proud of the way that Alton Towers assisted the emergency services – it was a very harrowing situation and we dealt with it promptly and professionally.

“Our community first responders were the first at the scene and were able to give valuable help before the ambulance crews arrived. 

“We were then able to transfer a number of people with minor injuries to our staff restaurant where they were assessed by medical personnel and received treatment. 

“Throughout the police interview process, which our employees were able to translate into various European languages, we provided refreshment and perhaps more importantly, compassion. 

“Finally, after several hours, our own employee transport drivers took them back 

to Peterborough, stopping off on the way at the hospitals 

to collect discharged 

patients. 

“All in all, I think it would be fair to say that the emergency services were grateful for our support.”