16 hurt in coach crash
A driver was this afternoon undergoing emergency treatment after being cut from the wreckage of a coach loaded with factory workers that collided with a lorry in Telford today, leaving 16 people needing hospital treatment.
A driver was this afternoon undergoing emergency treatment after being cut from the wreckage of a coach loaded with factory workers that collided with a lorry in Telford today, leaving 16 people needing hospital treatment.
The AT Brown coach driver, a man in his 30s, was trapped for nearly two hours before being freed following the crash in Hortonwood industrial estate this morning.
He suffered lower leg injuries and was taken to the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford along with three of the passengers who had to be put on spinal boards after suffering suspected neck injuries.
A further 26 people who had been on the works transport coach were first ferried to Donnington ambulance station for checks. Twelve were taken to the PRH for treatment, two on spinal boards
The coach, owned and operated by A T Brown, of Horton Enterprise Park, Telford, had been ferrying workers from Wolverhampton to chicken processor Faccenda's factory in Hortonwood when the crash happened at 7.10am. Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service watch manager Ian Pugh, who attended the scene, said: "All passengers off the coach were evacuated to a nearby factory, leaving just the driver of the coach trapped."
He said they had to move the coach away from the back of the lorry and use specialist equipment to cut away the coach windscreen in a bid to free the driver, who was trapped by his legs.
Three fire appliances from Wellington and Telford Central fire stations, as well as an incident commander, were sent to the scene.
The accident caused Hortonwood 30 to be closed for several hours, forcing drivers delivering to nearby businesses to find alternative routes.
Telford police spokesman Chris Ammonds said: "The driver was injured, but he had been in trapped in the cold for quite a while and I think that was one of the major concerns of the paramedics."
West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman Suzie Fothergill said 26 workers were taken to Donnington for assessment.
Ewen MacLeod, AT Brown director, said the coach was on a regular run.
"We sent out another coach to pick up the passengers but that had a knock-on effect on our other services," he said.
Mr MacLeod said the 12 passengers taken to hospital were allowed home after treatment, but his driver was still being treated.
He said: "Our driver was still in the hospital this afternoon but, fortunately, we don't think his leg injuries are too serious.
"He was due to have exploratory X-rays and then hopefully would be released.
"I would like to send my best wishes for a speedy recovery to everyone injured in the crash."
