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Ecuador crash survivors treated Ecuador crash survivors treated
(about 1 hour later)
Survivors injured in a bus crash in Ecuador which left five British tourists dead have been moved to the capital Quito for treatment. Injured survivors of a bus crash in Ecuador which left five British tourists dead, have been flown to the capital Quito for treatment.
The 12 Britons, a French national and two Ecuadorians suffered whiplash, minor facial and leg injuries.The 12 Britons, a French national and two Ecuadorians suffered whiplash, minor facial and leg injuries.
Gap-year students Indira Swann, 18, of Berks, Lizzie Pincock, 19, of Somerset, Rebecca Logie, 19, of Lancs, and Emily Sadler, 19, of Hertfordshire, all died.Gap-year students Indira Swann, 18, of Berks, Lizzie Pincock, 19, of Somerset, Rebecca Logie, 19, of Lancs, and Emily Sadler, 19, of Hertfordshire, all died.
The travel company's guide Sarah Howard, 26, from Cheshire, also died.The travel company's guide Sarah Howard, 26, from Cheshire, also died.
'Bus shook'
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said his thoughts were with their families.Prime Minister Gordon Brown said his thoughts were with their families.
British diplomats are helping to investigate the crash, in which the bus is thought to have collided with a truck. The group had been heading from Quito to the coast when their tour bus collided with a lorry.
'Deeply saddened' She was a beautiful, bubbly girl with her whole life ahead of her. Her loss is indescribable Emily Sadler's family
VICTIMS Sarah Howard, 26: CheshireRebecca Logie, 19: LancashireLizzie Pincock, 19: SomersetIndira Swann, 18: BerkshireEmily Sadler, 19: Hertfordshire class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7345390.stm">Victims united by love of travel One survivor told the BBC: "I was asleep. I remember a big bang and the whole bus shook, and everything just stopped."
The family of Emily Sadler, who was from Northwood in Hertfordshire and due to start at Manchester University in September, have paid tribute to their "fun-loving and popular" daughter and sister. The group were almost three weeks into a 15-week trip of a lifetime - an Inca and Amazon adventure involving language tuition and working on a series of volunteer projects.
In a statement they said "her enthusiasm for adventure and new experiences had been the incentive to travel to Ecuador", and they had last spoken to her on Wednesday. The family of Emma Sadler paid tribute to their "fun-loving and popular" daughter.
"She was a beautiful bubbly girl with her whole life ahead of her. Her loss is indescribable," they said. "She was a beautiful, bubbly girl with her whole life ahead of her. Her loss is indescribable," they said in a statement.
A Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) spokesman said it welcomed the news that Ecuadorian authorities had appointed a prosecutor to investigate the crash. The 19-year-old lived in Northwood, Hertfordshire, with her parents, two sisters and two brothers.
CRASH VICTIMS Sarah Howard, 26: CheshireRebecca Logie, 19: LancashireLizzie Pincock, 19: SomersetIndira Swann, 18: BerkshireEmily Sadler, 19: Hertfordshire Victims united by love of travel
She was on a gap year before going to Manchester University to study history, and last spoke to her family on Wednesday.
The injured were flown back to Quito where they are receiving treatment in local hospitals. It is likely the British survivors will return home shortly.
Meanwhile, Ecuadorian authorities have begun an investigation with British diplomats said to be assisting.
The bus was left badly damaged by the traffic accidentThe bus was left badly damaged by the traffic accident
The accident happened in Sancan, on the road between Manta and Jipijapa, an Ecuadorian news website reported. The accident happened at 1930 local time on Saturday (0130 BST Sunday) in Sancan, on the road between Manta and Jipijapa.
The bus was owned by Reina del Camino, a company well known to Warwick-based tour company VentureCo, and the crash occurred at 1900 local time on Saturday. Ecuadorian police said the driver of a lorry carrying a load of sand crashed into the bus, owned by Reina del Camino, a company well known to Warwick-based tour company VentureCo.
Ecuadorian police have said the driver of a lorry carrying a load of sand crashed into the bus. The truck driver then fled the scene. The lorry driver then fled the scene.
'Tragic accident' The travellers on the 15-week Inca and Amazon Venture, which set out on 27 March, had been heading to the second stage of their trip, which involved volunteering on a development project at the fishing village of Puerto Lopez.
The group was part of a 15-week "Inca and Amazon Venture", which set out on 27 March. They were planning to renovate a children's creche there.
They had been heading to the second stage of their trip, which involved volunteering on a development project on the coast at Puerto Lopez. They were planning to renovate a children's creche there. The group were reaching the end of an eight-hour journey and were 30 minutes from the village in the lowlands when the crash happened.
Mark Davison, a VentureCo director, said the four students were heading to university in September. Mark Davison, a VentureCo director, said: "I think it was just an unfortunate combination of circumstances. It's a tragic accident.
He added the group was only 30 minutes from its destination, and the accident had happened in the least dangerous, lowland part of the eight-hour journey. "A parent should never have to go through this. As a parent myself, my heart goes out to them."
"I think it was just an unfortunate combination of circumstances. It's a tragic accident. A parent should never have to go through this. As a parent myself, my heart goes out to them."
About 22,000 Britons visit Ecuador every year, according to the Foreign Office.About 22,000 Britons visit Ecuador every year, according to the Foreign Office.
The South American country - which includes the Galapagos Islands - is known for its volcanoes, tropical forests and rich wildlife.The South American country - which includes the Galapagos Islands - is known for its volcanoes, tropical forests and rich wildlife.
Anyone concerned for the safety of a friend or relative in Ecuador can call the Foreign Office on 020 7008 1500.Anyone concerned for the safety of a friend or relative in Ecuador can call the Foreign Office on 020 7008 1500.