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| Version 8 | Version 9 |
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| Driver killed as two buses crash | Driver killed as two buses crash |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The driver of a bus was killed and a number of passengers badly hurt when his vehicle collided with a coach in County Durham. | The driver of a bus was killed and a number of passengers badly hurt when his vehicle collided with a coach in County Durham. |
| Police said the incident happened in Newfield, near Chester-le-Street, at about 1600 GMT on Wednesday. | Police said the incident happened in Newfield, near Chester-le-Street, at about 1600 GMT on Wednesday. |
| The bus was carrying several people, including a number of elderly passengers. The larger coach was not carrying anybody. | The bus was carrying several people, including a number of elderly passengers. The larger coach was not carrying anybody. |
| The injured were taken to hospitals in Durham, Middlesbrough and Newcastle. | The injured were taken to hospitals in Durham, Middlesbrough and Newcastle. |
| I tried to revive him and he was struggling to breathe. All I could do was sit and wait for the emergency services to turn up Eyewitness Paul Northey, who helped at the scene | I tried to revive him and he was struggling to breathe. All I could do was sit and wait for the emergency services to turn up Eyewitness Paul Northey, who helped at the scene |
| Eyewitness Paul Northey was working in a field close to the scene of the incident. | Eyewitness Paul Northey was working in a field close to the scene of the incident. |
| He said he had tried to help one injured man who was "covered in blood" and had a serious head injury. | He said he had tried to help one injured man who was "covered in blood" and had a serious head injury. |
| He said: "I heard an almighty bang and noticed two buses had hit each other. | He said: "I heard an almighty bang and noticed two buses had hit each other. |
| "I ran over to see whether everyone was OK and saw one man with blood all over his head. | "I ran over to see whether everyone was OK and saw one man with blood all over his head. |
| "I tried to revive him and he was struggling to breathe. All I could do was sit and wait for the emergency services to turn up." | "I tried to revive him and he was struggling to breathe. All I could do was sit and wait for the emergency services to turn up." |
| William Robinson, 47, a railway ticket enforcement officer of North View, who was also quickly on the scene, added: "The driver of the bus was slumped across the handrail. | William Robinson, 47, a railway ticket enforcement officer of North View, who was also quickly on the scene, added: "The driver of the bus was slumped across the handrail. |
| "He was in a very poor condition. We tried to get the doors open and in the end we had to go in through the back. | "He was in a very poor condition. We tried to get the doors open and in the end we had to go in through the back. |
| "The driver had no pulse and obviously he had died straightaway. It must have been instant." | "The driver had no pulse and obviously he had died straightaway. It must have been instant." |
| Gary Bell witnessed "total carnage" | Gary Bell witnessed "total carnage" |
| Mr Robinson said he then went to check on the welfare of the passengers while he waited for the emergency services. | Mr Robinson said he then went to check on the welfare of the passengers while he waited for the emergency services. |
| He added: "It was the worst accident I have ever seen and it is unbelievable it happened on a small road like this. | He added: "It was the worst accident I have ever seen and it is unbelievable it happened on a small road like this. |
| "I cannot work out what has happened. It is just fortunate that neither bus was full." | "I cannot work out what has happened. It is just fortunate that neither bus was full." |
| Other eyewitnesses said the bus, which was operating a local service around the town, was travelling downhill along North View, while the coach was travelling in the opposite direction. | Other eyewitnesses said the bus, which was operating a local service around the town, was travelling downhill along North View, while the coach was travelling in the opposite direction. |
| Police said the driver of the coach was in a critical condition at Newcastle General Hospital. | Police said the driver of the coach was in a critical condition at Newcastle General Hospital. |
| A spokesman also confirmed three of the injured bus passengers were two women, aged 73 and 50, and a 70-year-old man. | A spokesman also confirmed three of the injured bus passengers were two women, aged 73 and 50, and a 70-year-old man. |
| One had suffered a fractured hip and was taken by air ambulance to the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough for treatment,. | One had suffered a fractured hip and was taken by air ambulance to the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough for treatment,. |
| The other two were taken to the University Hospital of North Durham. | The other two were taken to the University Hospital of North Durham. |
| The North East Ambulance Service said one casualty, believed to be the coach driver, was taken to Newcastle General Hospital with critical head injuries, chest injuries and lower leg trauma. | The North East Ambulance Service said one casualty, believed to be the coach driver, was taken to Newcastle General Hospital with critical head injuries, chest injuries and lower leg trauma. |
| The police spokesman said: "At present it is known that one person has died and a number of passengers have been injured." | The police spokesman said: "At present it is known that one person has died and a number of passengers have been injured." |
| Two air ambulances were sent to the scene along with several ordinary ambulances. | Two air ambulances were sent to the scene along with several ordinary ambulances. |
| At least one person had to be cut free. | At least one person had to be cut free. |
| Police said the scene of the crash would remain closed for some time. | Police said the scene of the crash would remain closed for some time. |
| Five vehicles from County Durham Fire and Rescue were also sent out. | Five vehicles from County Durham Fire and Rescue were also sent out. |
| Gail McKeith, landlady at the Newfield Inn in Newfield Road, said neighbours were struggling to understand how the crash had occurred. | Gail McKeith, landlady at the Newfield Inn in Newfield Road, said neighbours were struggling to understand how the crash had occurred. |
| She said: "It's not a dangerous road - it's a village with a 30mph speed limit. We don't know how it happened." | She said: "It's not a dangerous road - it's a village with a 30mph speed limit. We don't know how it happened." |
| She said the buses had crashed head-on, in front of a row of bungalows. | She said the buses had crashed head-on, in front of a row of bungalows. |