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M-way death coach driver arrested M-way death coach driver arrested
(40 minutes later)
The driver of a National Express coach which overturned, killing two people, has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.The driver of a National Express coach which overturned, killing two people, has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.
The coach overturned near Heathrow Airport on a slip road from the M4 to the M25 late on Wednesday evening.The coach overturned near Heathrow Airport on a slip road from the M4 to the M25 late on Wednesday evening.
A man and a woman died and the 69 people on board the London-to-Aberdeen service were taken to hospital. A man and a 60-year-old woman from Dundee died. The 69 people, including many children, who were on the coach were taken to hospital.
At least three of those hurt are children and some of the casualties taken to hospital have lost limbs. Some passengers on the London-Aberdeen service lost limbs in the crash.
Sixteen ambulances, four rapid response cars, a number of doctors, three patient transport vehicles and an equipment support vehicle from the London Ambulance Service attended the scene. The 40-year-old driver was arrested by officers shortly after the crash on Thursday morning and will be interviewed at a Berkshire police station, Thames Valley Police said.
It's quite likely there were holidaymakers and certainly some foreign nationals on board as well when the coach left Heathrow National Express chief executive Paul Bunting
Thirty-six passengers, including the two who later died, were taken to Hillingdon Hospital, in west London.
Of those, three remain in a serious condition.
One has undergone surgery and the other two are waiting to go into theatre, where an assessment will be made about whether or not to amputate limbs.
The spokesman said another patient was a 14-year-old boy while one person had already had an arm amputated.
Trauma consultant David Houlihan-Burne said many of the patients came in "contaminated" with mud and grass which he said may have been because they had been thrown from the coach.
PHONE LINES National Express helpline: 0121 625 1278Police witness appeal: 0845 8 505 505Brake Support line: 0845 6038570PHONE LINES National Express helpline: 0121 625 1278Police witness appeal: 0845 8 505 505Brake Support line: 0845 6038570
Firefighters used hydraulic cutting gear, airbags and thermal imaging cameras to help rescue seven people, and five were released before they got there. He added they had a well drilled emergency plan as they were so close to Heathrow airport.
The injured were taken to a number of hospitals, the majority to Hillingdon Hospital, including the man and woman who were confirmed dead. A further 16 casualties were taken to Charing Cross Hospital. One of those was later transferred to another hospital and three are "giving doctors cause for concern", a spokesman said.
A spokesman for the west London hospital said 38 passengers were taken there. Of those, two are still in a serious condition. Two women, one described as being in a critical condition, are being treated at the West Middlesex Hospital.
He added another patient was a 14-year-old boy and one person had undergone an arm amputation.
A further 16 casualties were taken to Charing Cross Hospital. One of those was later transferred to another hospital, and three are "giving doctors cause for concern", a spokesman said.
The coach has now been moved from the scene
Two women, one described as being serious the as in a critical condition, are being treated at the West Middlesex Hospital.
A boy and a girl are being treated in the paediatric intensive care unit at St Mary's Hospital.A boy and a girl are being treated in the paediatric intensive care unit at St Mary's Hospital.
Four of the casualties are being treated at St Peter's Hospital in Chertsey, Surrey, and the condition of all of them is described as "serious".Four of the casualties are being treated at St Peter's Hospital in Chertsey, Surrey, and the condition of all of them is described as "serious".
Thames Valley Police said the coach driver has not been questioned about the crash.
The force added it did not believe any other vehicle was involved in the crash but investigations were continuing.
The coach was a No 592 service which departed London Victoria at 2230 GMT and was due to arrive in Aberdeen at 1030 GMT.
As well as the passengers two staff were on board the service, which was due to stop at Heathrow Airport, Carlisle, Hamilton, Glasgow and Dundee.
It's quite likely there were holidaymakers, and certainly some foreign nationals, on board as well when the coach left Heathrow National Express chief executive Paul Bunting
The coach has been loaded on to the back of a lorry and has now been moved.
The crash closed the slip road from junction 4B of the M4 leading to junction 15 of the M25 clockwise, where the accident happened. It has now reopened.
National Express said it was likely many of the passengers were returning from holiday.National Express said it was likely many of the passengers were returning from holiday.
National Express chief executive Paul Bunting said the coach was one of a pair but the other was not involved in the crash and continued its journey. Coach examined
He added most of the passengers were going to Glasgow. The firm's chief executive Paul Bunting said most of the passengers were going to Glasgow.
"It's quite likely there were holidaymakers, and certainly some foreign nationals, on board as well when the coach left Heathrow," he said. "It's quite likely there were holidaymakers and certainly some foreign nationals on board as well when the coach left Heathrow," he said.
"We know we had some Polish nationals as well as Scottish people.""We know we had some Polish nationals as well as Scottish people."
Sixteen ambulances, four rapid response cars, a number of doctors, three patient transport vehicles and an equipment support vehicle from the London Ambulance Service attended the crash scene.
Firefighters used hydraulic cutting gear, airbags and thermal imaging cameras to help rescue seven people.
The coach was a No 592 service which departed London Victoria at 2230 GMT and was due to arrive in Aberdeen at 1030 GMT.
As well as the 67 passengers there were two drivers on board the service, which was due to stop at Heathrow Airport, Carlisle, Hamilton, Glasgow and Dundee.
The coach has been loaded on to the back of a lorry and has now been moved to a garage in Oxfordshire where it will be forensically examined.
The slip road from junction 4B of the M4 leading to junction 15 of the M25 has now been reopened.