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19/08/2008
Police Probe Fatal Coach Crash
An investigation is underway after a coach party travelling to the Alton Towers theme park plunged down a steep embankment, killing one and injuring 70 in Staffordshire.
The single decker coach ended up in a garden in Alton after colliding with a parked car on Station Road and crashing through a wall, near Alton Towers on Monday evening at about 6pm. No one was in the parked car.
A 26-year-old Polish man died and two people were flown to hospital with head injuries.
Those aboard, from Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and South Africa were on a trip to theme park Alton Towers.
Murray MacGregor, of West Midlands Ambulance Service, said the coach driver, a man from Lincolnshire, was also seriously injured.
One woman was airlifted to Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham, while another man and woman were taken to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire in Stoke-on-Trent, all with head injuries.
Mr MacGregor added that "seven or so people suffered broken bones and serious cuts and 20 had minor injuries".
"The language barriers made it difficult, as did the sheer numbers," he said.
The crash has prompted villagers to repeat calls for a bypass to divert heavy traffic heading to and from the theme park away from Alton.
Russell Barnes, the park's Regional Director, says the accident records on the roads "were no worse than other rural roads in England".
Chief Inspector John Maddox, from Staffordshire Police, said officers were trying to establish what caused the crash.
Ch Insp Maddox said that they were unable to get information from the bus driver as he is critically injured.
"We're currently carrying out enquiries into how this crash happened, gathering evidence from the scene and speaking to witnesses. This is likely to take some time given the nature of the incident and the diverse background of those involved," he said.
The coach is lying on a slope at the bottom of the garden and another vehicle is thought to be underneath it.
Bradley Ford, a resident at the nearby Alton Bridge Hotel told BBC News that he "heard a massive crash, rumble, of either crunching metal or what sounded to me initially as a thunderstorm as it was heavily raining before".
"When I got to the scene there was a bus overturned, it looked like it had ploughed into a car and then down a neighbour's driveway into the garden."
Families planning a trip to Alton Towers have been warned to expect delays.
Emergency services hope to open the road, which is on the main route to Alton Towers, later today.
(DS)
The single decker coach ended up in a garden in Alton after colliding with a parked car on Station Road and crashing through a wall, near Alton Towers on Monday evening at about 6pm. No one was in the parked car.
A 26-year-old Polish man died and two people were flown to hospital with head injuries.
Those aboard, from Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and South Africa were on a trip to theme park Alton Towers.
Murray MacGregor, of West Midlands Ambulance Service, said the coach driver, a man from Lincolnshire, was also seriously injured.
One woman was airlifted to Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham, while another man and woman were taken to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire in Stoke-on-Trent, all with head injuries.
Mr MacGregor added that "seven or so people suffered broken bones and serious cuts and 20 had minor injuries".
"The language barriers made it difficult, as did the sheer numbers," he said.
The crash has prompted villagers to repeat calls for a bypass to divert heavy traffic heading to and from the theme park away from Alton.
Russell Barnes, the park's Regional Director, says the accident records on the roads "were no worse than other rural roads in England".
Chief Inspector John Maddox, from Staffordshire Police, said officers were trying to establish what caused the crash.
Ch Insp Maddox said that they were unable to get information from the bus driver as he is critically injured.
"We're currently carrying out enquiries into how this crash happened, gathering evidence from the scene and speaking to witnesses. This is likely to take some time given the nature of the incident and the diverse background of those involved," he said.
The coach is lying on a slope at the bottom of the garden and another vehicle is thought to be underneath it.
Bradley Ford, a resident at the nearby Alton Bridge Hotel told BBC News that he "heard a massive crash, rumble, of either crunching metal or what sounded to me initially as a thunderstorm as it was heavily raining before".
"When I got to the scene there was a bus overturned, it looked like it had ploughed into a car and then down a neighbour's driveway into the garden."
Families planning a trip to Alton Towers have been warned to expect delays.
Emergency services hope to open the road, which is on the main route to Alton Towers, later today.
(DS)
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04 June 2015
Alton Towers To Remain Closed
Alton Towers is to remain closed until an investigation into the cause of a rollercoaster crash that left 16 people injured is completed, it is understood. At around 2pm on Tuesday 2 June, two carriages crashed on a low section of track on the theme park's The Smiler rollercoaster.
Alton Towers To Remain Closed
Alton Towers is to remain closed until an investigation into the cause of a rollercoaster crash that left 16 people injured is completed, it is understood. At around 2pm on Tuesday 2 June, two carriages crashed on a low section of track on the theme park's The Smiler rollercoaster.
03 June 2015
Alton Towers Remains Closed Following Accident
Alton Towers remains closed today, 3 June, following an incident on one of its attractions on Tuesday. At around 2pm yesterday, two carriages crashed on a low section of track on the theme park's The Smiler rollercoaster. Sixteen passengers were on the ride at the time, some of which were trapped for four-and-a-half hours.
Alton Towers Remains Closed Following Accident
Alton Towers remains closed today, 3 June, following an incident on one of its attractions on Tuesday. At around 2pm yesterday, two carriages crashed on a low section of track on the theme park's The Smiler rollercoaster. Sixteen passengers were on the ride at the time, some of which were trapped for four-and-a-half hours.
06 December 2011
Station Improvements 'On Track'
Rail passengers are set to benefit from easier journeys at stations across the country after Rail Minister, Norman Baker, approved more than £37.5m of Government funding to make stations more easily accessible under a new Access for All Mid-Tier programme.
Station Improvements 'On Track'
Rail passengers are set to benefit from easier journeys at stations across the country after Rail Minister, Norman Baker, approved more than £37.5m of Government funding to make stations more easily accessible under a new Access for All Mid-Tier programme.
02 July 2015
Monorail Breaks Down At Alton Towers
A total of 80 people were left stuck for an hour after two monorail trains broke down at Alton Towers on Wednesday. The incident happened at around 5.25pm. Also on Wednesday, the theme park's Air rollercoaster was also temporarily stopped on Wednesday afternoon, with some people stranded upside down on the ride for 20 minutes.
Monorail Breaks Down At Alton Towers
A total of 80 people were left stuck for an hour after two monorail trains broke down at Alton Towers on Wednesday. The incident happened at around 5.25pm. Also on Wednesday, the theme park's Air rollercoaster was also temporarily stopped on Wednesday afternoon, with some people stranded upside down on the ride for 20 minutes.
08 June 2015
Alton Towers To Reopen
Alton Towers has reopened today, Monday 8 June, almost a week after it was forced to close. Last Tuesday (2 June), the theme park closed following a crash on one of its rollercoasters – The Smiler. A total of 16 people were injured – four seriously – in the incident where two carriages crashed on a low section of track.
Alton Towers To Reopen
Alton Towers has reopened today, Monday 8 June, almost a week after it was forced to close. Last Tuesday (2 June), the theme park closed following a crash on one of its rollercoasters – The Smiler. A total of 16 people were injured – four seriously – in the incident where two carriages crashed on a low section of track.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:It will be cloudy again throughout the day. Mainly dry in the morning, but patchy drizzle in places, becoming more widespread and persistent in the afternoon. Freshening southwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
