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Coach crashes down ditch on M5 in Gloucestershire | Coach crashes down ditch on M5 in Gloucestershire |
(35 minutes later) | |
A coach carrying 53 adults and children from the West Midlands on a day-trip to the seaside has overturned in a ditch off the M5 in Gloucestershire. | |
The crash happened just before 10:00 BST close to junction 13 for Stroud. | The crash happened just before 10:00 BST close to junction 13 for Stroud. |
The Highways Agency said it was "a serious incident", but with walking injured. | |
Five adults and one child were injured, a South West Ambulance Service spokesman said. All of them were said to have minor injuries. | |
The child was taken to Bristol Children's Hospital, the adults to Southmead Hospital. | The child was taken to Bristol Children's Hospital, the adults to Southmead Hospital. |
The coach was operated by Stourbridge-based Prospect Coaches and was taking the group to Weston-super-Mare. | |
The Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT), which represents operators of UK buses, said it understood it was one of four coaches making the same journey. | |
Passengers were collected from a children's centre in West Bromwich at 08:30 BST. | |
The CPT said it had not yet had a chance to speak to the driver or the authorities to find out more about the circumstances leading to the crash. | |
Carriageway closed | Carriageway closed |
A Gloucestershire Police spokesman said: "We were notified shortly before 10am that a coach had left the southbound M5 motorway close to junction 13, had overturned and landed in a ditch. | A Gloucestershire Police spokesman said: "We were notified shortly before 10am that a coach had left the southbound M5 motorway close to junction 13, had overturned and landed in a ditch. |
"Fifty-four people believed to be of various ages were on board, including the driver. | |
"The injuries are not believed to be life-threatening or life-changing, and the driver has a suspected back injury, but is conscious. | |
"Transport is being laid on to convey the passengers from the scene." | |
The force spokesman said police had received "multiple calls" about the crash and asked witnesses to postpone calls to its 101 non-emergency number until later on Tuesday. | |
Two air ambulances and three fire engines went on the scene. | |
The motorway's southbound carriageway is closed while the crash is investigated and it is not known when it will re-open. | |
No other vehicles were involved in the crash. |