This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-england-17497711
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 5 | Version 6 |
---|---|
M5 crash leaves coach passenger dead and 39 others hurt | M5 crash leaves coach passenger dead and 39 others hurt |
(39 minutes later) | |
One person died and 39 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 in foggy conditions on the southbound carriageway, between junctions 3 and 4 at 06:24 GMT. | |
Police said a 35-year-old man from Birmingham, who was on the coach, had died. Another coach passenger and the lorry driver were seriously hurt. | |
West Midlands Ambulance Service said it had treated 40 adults at the scene. | |
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. | 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. |
The road has now reopened northbound. | |
A coach passenger said they had been travelling from Birmingham to Evesham when the vehicle broke down, close to Frankley services. | |
He said that about 10 minutes later, the lorry struck the coach from behind while it was stationary, shunting the bus towards the central reservation. | |
The crash happened on a section of the motorway where roadworks are being carried out. | |
The southbound side of the motorway remains shut and police said it was unlikely to re-open until the end of the day "at the earliest". | |
West Midlands Police said it 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. |
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... it was quite horrendous at the time." | "That area is renowned for heavy fog... 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: "Whilst the majority of patients appear to be walking wounded there are a small number with potentially serious injuries." |
Steve Wheaton from, West Midlands Ambulance Service, said the outcome could have been far worse. | Steve Wheaton from, West Midlands Ambulance Service, said the outcome could have been far worse. |
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. | 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. |
"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." | "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. |