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Bus collisions leave 42 injured Marines injured as coach crashes
(about 2 hours later)
More than 40 people have been injured - four of them seriously - in separate crashes involving a coach and a minibus on icy roads in Gloucestershire. A coach carrying 29 Royal Marines bound for Afghanistan has crashed in Gloucestershire leaving one marine and the civilian driver seriously injured.
The minibus with 14 people on board crashed at Highnam, near the A40 to the west of Gloucester at about 0445 GMT. The MoD has confirmed the marines, from 42 Commando based at Bickleigh near Plymouth, were en route to Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.
Later, at 0520 GMT, a coach from Plymouth carrying 30 military personnel left the A40 at Puesdown near Cheltenham and hit a tree. Five of the six marines who were taken to Cheltenham General hospital are due to be discharged later.
The driver, a 39-year-old from Plymouth, was seriously injured. The 39-year-old driver from Plymouth has serious head injuries.
The coach had been travelling to Oxfordshire. He is being treated at the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.
The road was closed following the accident and remains closed at this time. The remaining personnel on the coach were taken to a nearby pub where they were checked by a doctor and continued on their way.
The injured have all been taken to Cheltenham General and the Gloucestershire Royal hospitals. Grit check
'Treacherous conditions' The coach, operated by Target Travel, crashed into a tree at 0520 GMT on the A40 at Puesdown near Cheltenham.
The road was closed following the accident but has since reopened.
The injuries to three of the men were originally assessed as critical by Great Western Ambulance staff.
Ministry of Defence spokesman Paul Leat said: "We are awaiting a further update on the condition of the remaining Royal Marine following a hospital check up.
"The families of those injured in this incident have been informed."
Gloucestershire County Council is examining whether the road at Puesdown had been gritted and is due to comment.
Earlier at about 0445 GMT a minibus with 14 people on board crashed at Highnam, near the A40 to the west of Gloucester.
A spokesman for Great Western Ambulance Service (GWAS) said the first crash left 12 people injured - one seriously with 11 "walking wounded".A spokesman for Great Western Ambulance Service (GWAS) said the first crash left 12 people injured - one seriously with 11 "walking wounded".
As a result of the second crash three people were in a critical condition and the rest suffered less severe injuries.
"Clearly these are both very serious incidents with multiple patients injured," said the spokesman.
"Crews from ambulance stations across Gloucestershire have responded, while we have also dispatched crews from our Avon sector.
"Reports from our control room say that the roads in the area are treacherously icy, which could well have contributed to both these incidents."