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M5 crash leaves coach passenger dead and nearly 40 hurt | |
(40 minutes later) | |
One person died and nearly 40 others were hurt when a coach and lorry crashed on the M5 in the West Midlands. | |
The motorway was shut after the collision at 06:24 GMT which happened southbound close to Frankley services between junctions 3 and 4. | |
Police said a coach passenger had died and another coach passenger and the lorry driver were seriously injured. | Police said a coach passenger had died and another coach passenger and the lorry driver were seriously injured. |
West Midlands Ambulance Service said it had treated 38 patients at the scene, described as "walking wounded". | West Midlands Ambulance Service said it had treated 38 patients at the scene, described as "walking wounded". |
An eyewitness told the BBC the lorry had hit the coach from behind. | An eyewitness told the BBC the lorry had hit the coach from behind. |
There were foggy conditions in the area and the crash happened on a section of the motorway where roadworks are being carried out. | There were foggy conditions in the area and the crash happened on a section of the motorway where roadworks are being carried out. |
The northbound side of the motorway has now reopened, but the southbound side remains shut. | |
West Midlands Police said they had been receiving calls from worried parents and wanted to stress that no children were involved in the crash. | West Midlands Police said they had been receiving calls from worried parents and wanted to stress that no children were involved in the crash. |
Another eyewitness, Paul Guppy, said: "I was driving past this at about twenty to seven. | Another eyewitness, Paul Guppy, said: "I was driving past this at about twenty to seven. |
"I was going north and on the south side, just after junction 3, there was a single-decker bus mounted up against the crash barrier with a lorry wedged into the back of it. | "I was going north and on the south side, just after junction 3, there was a single-decker bus mounted up against the crash barrier with a lorry wedged into the back of it. |
"And it completely blocked the whole three lanes. | "And it completely blocked the whole three lanes. |
"There was fog patches, 'cos I was driving through it with my fog lights on. | "There was fog patches, 'cos I was driving through it with my fog lights on. |
"That area is renowned for heavy fog, 'cos it's not far from Frankley Beeches and there's a lot of low-lying land that's damp - so you get a lot of steam fog. | |
"But it was quite horrendous at the time." | "But it was quite horrendous at the time." |
West Midlands Ambulance Service earlier tweeted: "A large number of resources have been sent to the scene of the incident, including ambulances, rapid response vehicles, the Trust's Hazardous Area Response Team, BASICS Doctors and ambulance officers. | West Midlands Ambulance Service earlier tweeted: "A large number of resources have been sent to the scene of the incident, including ambulances, rapid response vehicles, the Trust's Hazardous Area Response Team, BASICS Doctors and ambulance officers. |
"A number of patients are currently being conveyed to various hospitals across the area. | "A number of patients are currently being conveyed to various hospitals across the area. |
"Whilst the majority of patients appear to be walking wounded there are a small number with potentially serious injuries." | "Whilst the majority of patients appear to be walking wounded there are a small number with potentially serious injuries." |
West Midlands Police advised drivers to travel on the M6 and M42 to avoid the M5. | West Midlands Police advised drivers to travel on the M6 and M42 to avoid the M5. |
Are you in the area? Have you been affected by this crash? You can send us your experiences using the form below. | Are you in the area? Have you been affected by this crash? You can send us your experiences using the form below. |