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Alps coach crash: British driver killed is named | |
(35 minutes later) | |
The British driver who died after a coach carrying ski resort staff crashed in the French Alps has been named as Maurice Wrightson from County Durham. | |
Three Britons seriously injured remain in hospital. They were among more than 50 people on the coach which crashed and burst into flames. | |
The chartered coach was transporting staff back to the UK at the end of the ski season. | The chartered coach was transporting staff back to the UK at the end of the ski season. |
The crash happened on Tuesday afternoon, near the Alpe d'Huez resort. | The crash happened on Tuesday afternoon, near the Alpe d'Huez resort. |
The coach crashed as it travelled down a steep mountain road, which features 21 hairpin bends. The road regularly features in the Tour de France cycling race. | The coach crashed as it travelled down a steep mountain road, which features 21 hairpin bends. The road regularly features in the Tour de France cycling race. |
Mr Wrightson, 64, worked for County Durham-based Classic Coaches and the coach had been hired by Brighton company Skibound. | |
Police suspect there was a problem with the vehicle's brakes, causing it to veer off the road and smash into rocks before bursting into flames. | Police suspect there was a problem with the vehicle's brakes, causing it to veer off the road and smash into rocks before bursting into flames. |
Several passengers escaped from the burning wreckage by jumping from the windows. | Several passengers escaped from the burning wreckage by jumping from the windows. |
A helicopter was scrambled to the scene where firefighters battled to put out the flames. | A helicopter was scrambled to the scene where firefighters battled to put out the flames. |