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| Coach crash boss in safety claim | Coach crash boss in safety claim |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The owners of a coach that overturned on a slip road at an M1 motorway services are "obsessed" with safety, its chief executive has claimed. | The owners of a coach that overturned on a slip road at an M1 motorway services are "obsessed" with safety, its chief executive has claimed. |
| Richard Bowker of National Express said drivers have to meet "tough standards" and random drink-drive tests. | Richard Bowker of National Express said drivers have to meet "tough standards" and random drink-drive tests. |
| Mr Bowker also said the firm was fully co-operating with police after the crash at Newport Pagnell, Bucks. | Mr Bowker also said the firm was fully co-operating with police after the crash at Newport Pagnell, Bucks. |
| The driver of the coach, from Birmingham-to-Stansted, is to be quizzed on suspicion of drink-driving. | The driver of the coach, from Birmingham-to-Stansted, is to be quizzed on suspicion of drink-driving. |
| Thirty people were injured, including six who were seriously hurt, in the crash on Monday afternoon, as the coach entered the services on the southbound carriageway of the motorway. | Thirty people were injured, including six who were seriously hurt, in the crash on Monday afternoon, as the coach entered the services on the southbound carriageway of the motorway. |
| Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Bowker said: "To be even considered to drive for National Express you have to pass very rigorous tests and the recruitment test, particularly around drugs and alcohol, is very tough. | Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Bowker said: "To be even considered to drive for National Express you have to pass very rigorous tests and the recruitment test, particularly around drugs and alcohol, is very tough. |
| Travelling by coach is far, far safer than travelling by car - it was last week, it will be this week and it will be in the future Richard Bowker | Travelling by coach is far, far safer than travelling by car - it was last week, it will be this week and it will be in the future Richard Bowker |
| "Once you are driving for National Express then the standards to which you have to perform are higher in terms of drink than the legal requirement. | "Once you are driving for National Express then the standards to which you have to perform are higher in terms of drink than the legal requirement. |
| "We randomly test and that means that it is extremely likely that you will be caught at some point." | "We randomly test and that means that it is extremely likely that you will be caught at some point." |
| The single-decker coach clipped a kerb, hit a lamppost and a tree and toppled over on to the driver's side in the accident. | The single-decker coach clipped a kerb, hit a lamppost and a tree and toppled over on to the driver's side in the accident. |
| Police were called by service station managers and four ambulances went to the scene. | Police were called by service station managers and four ambulances went to the scene. |
| Driver breath-tested | Driver breath-tested |
| The six with serious injuries were taken to hospitals in Milton Keynes, Northampton and Oxford. | The six with serious injuries were taken to hospitals in Milton Keynes, Northampton and Oxford. |
| Emergency services said 11 people, described as "walking wounded", suffered minor injuries and 17 were discharged at the scene. | Emergency services said 11 people, described as "walking wounded", suffered minor injuries and 17 were discharged at the scene. |
| In pictures: Coach crash | |
| The driver, who had to be cut free from the wreckage, was breath-tested at the scene and arrested shortly afterwards on suspicion of drink-driving and dangerous driving. | The driver, who had to be cut free from the wreckage, was breath-tested at the scene and arrested shortly afterwards on suspicion of drink-driving and dangerous driving. |
| Mr Bowker said: "This is now a police investigation and obviously we need to learn the detail of this ourselves as quickly as possible. | Mr Bowker said: "This is now a police investigation and obviously we need to learn the detail of this ourselves as quickly as possible. |
| "It is so incredibly rare for us to have an incident like this... travelling by coach is far, far safer than travelling by car - it was last week, it will be this week and it will be in the future." | "It is so incredibly rare for us to have an incident like this... travelling by coach is far, far safer than travelling by car - it was last week, it will be this week and it will be in the future." |
| The coach had left Birmingham at 1400 BST. | The coach had left Birmingham at 1400 BST. |