One man has died and more than 60 are injured after a bus rolled down an embankment and overturned in Staffordshire, emergency services say.
One man has died and more than 60 are injured after a bus rolled down an embankment and overturned in Staffordshire, emergency services say.
The double decker collided with a car, crashed through a wall and ended up in a garden in Alton, near Alton Towers theme park, just before 1800 BST.
The double decker collided with a car, crashed through a wall and ended up in a garden in Alton, near Alton Towers theme park, just before 1800 BST.
Three people were seriously hurt, one with head injuries. Fifteen other patients have been taken to hospital.
Three people were seriously hurt, one with head injuries. Twenty more were taken to hospital.
The passengers are thought to have been on a day trip to the theme park.
The passengers are thought to have been on a day trip to the theme park.
They are thought to have been foreign workers from the Peterborough area.
They are thought to have been foreign workers from the Peterborough area.
Chief Inspector John Maddox, from Staffordshire Police, said officers were trying to establish what caused the crash.
"The bus was coming down a steep hill towards the bridge at the bottom, and from what I can see at the scene, that bus has not managed to go round the bend, and has careered through a wall and down a drop into a garden," he said.
The ambulance service said there were 44 walking wounded.
The ambulance service said there were 44 walking wounded.
BBC reporter Liz Copper reports from the scene of the incident
BBC reporter Liz Copper reports from the scene of the incident
Two air ambulances, 10 land ambulances, five rapid response vehicles and five fire engines have been sent to the scene.
Two air ambulances, 10 land ambulances, five rapid response vehicles and five fire engines have been sent to the scene.
Two of the seriously injured were airlifted from the scene, one to Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham and one to University Hospital North Staffordshire.
Bradley Ford, who lives at the nearby Alton Bridge Hotel, told BBC News he had helped with casualties.
Bradley Ford, who lives at the nearby Alton Bridge Hotel, told BBC News he had helped with casualties.
He said: "I heard this massive crash, rumble, of either crunching metal or what sounded to me initially as a thunderstorm as it was heavily raining before.
He said: "I heard this massive crash, rumble, of either crunching metal or what sounded to me initially as a thunderstorm as it was heavily raining before.
"Then after that we heard shouts and screams so we obviously put it down to a crash.
"Then after that we heard shouts and screams so we obviously put it down to a crash.
"When I got to the scene there was a bus overturned, it looked like it had ploughed into a car and then down a neighbour's driveway into the garden.
"When I got to the scene there was a bus overturned, it looked like it had ploughed into a car and then down a neighbour's driveway into the garden.
"It must have dropped about 20ft. It was on a slope, it's diagonal, not head-first."
"It must have dropped about 20ft. It was on a slope, it's diagonal, not head-first."
He added: "There were people climbing out of the fire exits on the bus. There were many walking wounded, all being seen to by the ambulance staff."
He added: "There were people climbing out of the fire exits on the bus. There were many walking wounded, all being seen to by the ambulance staff."
The collision happened on Station Road, between Alton and the theme park, which is about one mile away.
The collision happened on Station Road, between Alton and the theme park, which is about one mile away.
Martin Bredda, who lives close to the scene of the crash, described it as "an accident waiting to happen".
Martin Bredda, who lives close to the scene of the crash, described it as "an accident waiting to happen".
"It's a narrow country road. It's mayhem, absolute mayhem. We had a torrential downpour of rain just before it happened.
"It's a narrow country road. It's mayhem, absolute mayhem. We had a torrential downpour of rain just before it happened.
"I was in the local pub when someone came in screaming for blankets and sheets.
"I was in the local pub when someone came in screaming for blankets and sheets.
"We all went to help but the area had been cordoned off by police."
"We all went to help but the area had been cordoned off by police."
The staff canteen at the theme park has been set aside to provide shelter and refreshments.
The staff canteen at the theme park has been set aside to provide shelter and refreshments.
They park sent a minibus to the scene to collect anyone who had been released by the ambulance crews, a spokeswoman said.
They park sent a minibus to the scene to collect anyone who had been released by the ambulance crews, a spokeswoman said.
The bus is not connected to Alton Towers, she added.
The bus is not connected to Alton Towers, she added.
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Did you witness the crash? Send us your eye witness accounts using the form below.
