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West Yorkshire M62 hen party crash victims 'critical' | West Yorkshire M62 hen party crash victims 'critical' |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Tributes have been paid to a woman who died when the minibus she was on with 20 other hen party guests crashed on the M62 motorway. | |
Police say eight women remain at two hospitals after the bus was in collision with a lorry near junction 32 at Castleford, on Friday. while en route to Liverpool. | |
Bethany Jones, 18, of Pontefract, died in the crash. | |
Ms Jones's family said she was "caring and considerate to everyone she met." | |
West Yorkshire Police said the lorry driver, arrested on suspicion of death by dangerous driving, has been bailed. The accident happened as the party travelled to Liverpool. | |
Earlier reports that bride-to-be Stefanie Firth, 24, from South Elmsall, was in intensive care, have not been confirmed. | |
'Horrendous' injuries | |
In a statement released through West Yorkshire Police, Ms Jones's family said: "Beth was a fun and bubbly girl who was caring and considerate to everyone she met. | In a statement released through West Yorkshire Police, Ms Jones's family said: "Beth was a fun and bubbly girl who was caring and considerate to everyone she met. |
"She was the apple of her granddad's eye and she will never be forgotten and sadly missed by everyone." | "She was the apple of her granddad's eye and she will never be forgotten and sadly missed by everyone." |
Seven of the women still receiving treatment are in a stable condition at Leeds General Infirmary, after three spent the night in intensive care. | Seven of the women still receiving treatment are in a stable condition at Leeds General Infirmary, after three spent the night in intensive care. |
One of the victims is being treated at the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough. | One of the victims is being treated at the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough. |
Brian Capstick, councillor for South Elmsall, said the community was "completely stunned" by the crash. | |
He told BBC Radio 5 live: "It's a very tragic accident. | |
"It's affected a lot of lives; what you've got to appreciate is it's a very close knit ex-mining community. A lot of the young girls that were involved and the mothers who where involved with them, are all inter-related. | |
"It's a tragic, horrendous accident for the whole of the community." | |
Mr Capstick also said he had spoken to friends and relatives of the women, who have visited their loved ones in hospital. | |
"Some of the injuries are absolutely horrendous. It really is tragic, it's dawning on people locally what the effect will be." | |
'Effectively gridlocked' | 'Effectively gridlocked' |
Crews from West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, said it was the worst crash they had seen in years. | Crews from West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, said it was the worst crash they had seen in years. |
Staff from five stations attended the scene and found the minibus, which had set off from South Elmsall, on its side. | Staff from five stations attended the scene and found the minibus, which had set off from South Elmsall, on its side. |
Patients were treated at the scene before being taken to hospitals including Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield and Leeds General Infirmary. | Patients were treated at the scene before being taken to hospitals including Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield and Leeds General Infirmary. |
At one stage six air ambulance were involved in dealing with casualties at the scene. | At one stage six air ambulance were involved in dealing with casualties at the scene. |
One motorist, Pritpal Singh, 28, from Leeds, saw the immediate aftermath of the accident. | One motorist, Pritpal Singh, 28, from Leeds, saw the immediate aftermath of the accident. |
"I was going in the same direction as the accident, the westbound carriageway. It was effectively gridlocked from 11.30am onwards. | "I was going in the same direction as the accident, the westbound carriageway. It was effectively gridlocked from 11.30am onwards. |
"By noon everyone had shut off their engines and started walking around on the road. | "By noon everyone had shut off their engines and started walking around on the road. |
"I was about a third of a mile back from where the accident was, I got out and walked up to the scene." | "I was about a third of a mile back from where the accident was, I got out and walked up to the scene." |