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M5 crash leaves coach passenger dead and nearly 40 hurt M5 crash leaves coach passenger dead and 39 others 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. One person died and 39 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.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. West Midlands Ambulance Service said it had treated 40 adults at the scene, but one coach passenger died.
West Midlands Ambulance Service said it had treated 38 patients at the scene, described as "walking wounded". Police said another coach passenger and the lorry driver were seriously hurt. The road has now reopened northbound.
An eyewitness told the BBC the lorry had hit the coach from behind. Twenty-seven of the injured were transferred to nearby hospitals including Queen Elizabeth Hospital and City Hospital in Birmingham, Alexandra Hospital in Redditch and Sandwell Hospital.
'Quite horrendous'
An eyewitness told the BBC the lorry had struck 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.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 it 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. 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. "That area is renowned for heavy fog... it was quite horrendous at the time."
"But it was quite horrendous at the time." West Midlands Ambulance Service earlier tweeted: "Whilst the majority of patients appear to be walking wounded there are a small number with potentially serious injuries."
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. Steve Wheaton from, West Midlands Ambulance Service, said the outcome could have been far worse.
"A number of patients are currently being conveyed to various hospitals across the area. He said: "The weather this morning has not been in our favour, in that it was very, very foggy at the time the incident occurred.
"Whilst the majority of patients appear to be walking wounded there are a small number with potentially serious injuries." "Fortunately, in many ways, whilst we have had a fatality and some serious injuries, the motorway was reasonably quiet at that time in the morning, so further loss of life or serious casualties may have been avoided."
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.