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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Three killed as coach overturns in Surrey | Three killed as coach overturns in Surrey |
| (7 months later) | |
| Three people died and others were left seriously injured when a coach overturned after colliding with a tree on an embankment in Surrey. | Three people died and others were left seriously injured when a coach overturned after colliding with a tree on an embankment in Surrey. |
| The vehicle was travelling north on the A3 near Hindhead in Surrey at 11.50pm on Monday when it left the road between the Hindhead tunnel and the exit for Thursley. No other vehicles are believed to have been involved. | The vehicle was travelling north on the A3 near Hindhead in Surrey at 11.50pm on Monday when it left the road between the Hindhead tunnel and the exit for Thursley. No other vehicles are believed to have been involved. |
| Three people on board the 51-seat coach were declared dead at the scene and a fourth passenger was airlifted to Southampton General hospital with "life-changing injuries", Surrey police said. | Three people on board the 51-seat coach were declared dead at the scene and a fourth passenger was airlifted to Southampton General hospital with "life-changing injuries", Surrey police said. |
| Other passengers, some of whom had serious injuries, were taken to the Royal Surrey County hospital in Guildford, St Peter's hospital in Chertsey, St George's hospital in Tooting, King's College hospital in London, Frimley Park hospital and Queen Alexandra hospital in Portsmouth. | Other passengers, some of whom had serious injuries, were taken to the Royal Surrey County hospital in Guildford, St Peter's hospital in Chertsey, St George's hospital in Tooting, King's College hospital in London, Frimley Park hospital and Queen Alexandra hospital in Portsmouth. |
| The road was closed in both directions shortly after the incident, and Surrey police , Surrey fire and rescue and South East Coast ambulance service all attended the scene, along with collision investigators. | The road was closed in both directions shortly after the incident, and Surrey police , Surrey fire and rescue and South East Coast ambulance service all attended the scene, along with collision investigators. |
| Police were working with their counterparts at Merseyside, where the coach was from, as well as with the coach company, to identify the passengers and notify relatives. | Police were working with their counterparts at Merseyside, where the coach was from, as well as with the coach company, to identify the passengers and notify relatives. |
| Passengers were taken to a rest centre which was set up nearby by Waverley council. | Passengers were taken to a rest centre which was set up nearby by Waverley council. |
| Surrey police Assistant Chief Constable Jerry Kirkby said: "This has been declared a major incident and we are working with our colleagues from the other emergency services and other partner agencies to provide a co-ordinated response in line with agreed protocols. | Surrey police Assistant Chief Constable Jerry Kirkby said: "This has been declared a major incident and we are working with our colleagues from the other emergency services and other partner agencies to provide a co-ordinated response in line with agreed protocols. |
| "Our thoughts remain with the relatives of the dead and the injured at this time and we are working very hard to notify their next of kin." | "Our thoughts remain with the relatives of the dead and the injured at this time and we are working very hard to notify their next of kin." |
| The road was expected to remain closed for several hours and diversions were in place. Motorists were asked to avoid the area until the road was reopened. | The road was expected to remain closed for several hours and diversions were in place. Motorists were asked to avoid the area until the road was reopened. |
| Inspector Richard Mallett, speaking at the scene to Sky News, said the coach had been full and 53 passengers were thought to have been on board. | Inspector Richard Mallett, speaking at the scene to Sky News, said the coach had been full and 53 passengers were thought to have been on board. |
| "We are dealing with a major incident, a tragic major incident, the coach has gone off the road and had a significant impact with a tree, I think that is the best way to describe it. | "We are dealing with a major incident, a tragic major incident, the coach has gone off the road and had a significant impact with a tree, I think that is the best way to describe it. |
| "The bodies are still trapped inside the vehicle. As you can imagine it is a very delicate operation to remove them. With all due respect to them, we need to get them out properly." | "The bodies are still trapped inside the vehicle. As you can imagine it is a very delicate operation to remove them. With all due respect to them, we need to get them out properly." |
| He added: "We are confident that there is no one left in the vehicle alive. Our colleagues from the fire and ambulance service with their specialist teams have been through the vehicle. It is a body recovery operation at this point here." | He added: "We are confident that there is no one left in the vehicle alive. Our colleagues from the fire and ambulance service with their specialist teams have been through the vehicle. It is a body recovery operation at this point here." |
| Mallett said some passengers had "suffered significant and life-changing injuries", but he could not give details about the people on board. | Mallett said some passengers had "suffered significant and life-changing injuries", but he could not give details about the people on board. |
| A casualty bureau number has been set up and people concerned about passengers on board the coach should call 0800 056 0154. | A casualty bureau number has been set up and people concerned about passengers on board the coach should call 0800 056 0154. |
| A Surrey police spokeswoman said: "Officers are carrying out a thorough search of the scene including the coach and the surrounding area." | A Surrey police spokeswoman said: "Officers are carrying out a thorough search of the scene including the coach and the surrounding area." |
| The coach is understood to have been operated by MerseyPride. | The coach is understood to have been operated by MerseyPride. |
| At its garage near Liverpool airport, a mechanic said the owner, David Hannell, was not available. | At its garage near Liverpool airport, a mechanic said the owner, David Hannell, was not available. |
| He said Hannell had been at the office since 3am but left shortly before 8am. | He said Hannell had been at the office since 3am but left shortly before 8am. |
| "He was here all night but I don't know where he is," the mechanic said. | "He was here all night but I don't know where he is," the mechanic said. |
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