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| Police wait to quiz crash driver | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Police are still waiting to speak to the driver of a coach that crashed and landed on its side on a motorway services slip road on Monday. | |
| The driver from West Bromwich, West Midlands, was seriously injured in the crash at Newport Pagnell services and is in Northampton General Hospital. | |
| It is hoped the slip road can be re-opened now the road surface damaged by a diesel spillage has been repaired. | It is hoped the slip road can be re-opened now the road surface damaged by a diesel spillage has been repaired. |
| Police have carried out a detailed investigation of the crash scene. | Police have carried out a detailed investigation of the crash scene. |
| Richard Bowker of National Express, operators of the coach from Birmingham to Stansted Airport, said the firm was fully co-operating with police investigating the crash, which left 30 people injured, six seriously. The standards to which [drivers] have to perform are higher in terms of drink than the legal requirement Richard Bowker, National Express Satellite image of crash site | Richard Bowker of National Express, operators of the coach from Birmingham to Stansted Airport, said the firm was fully co-operating with police investigating the crash, which left 30 people injured, six seriously. The standards to which [drivers] have to perform are higher in terms of drink than the legal requirement Richard Bowker, National Express Satellite image of crash site |
| The 34-year-old driver has been arrested on suspicion of drink-driving and is under police guard in hospital while detectives wait until he is fit enough to speak to them. | The 34-year-old driver has been arrested on suspicion of drink-driving and is under police guard in hospital while detectives wait until he is fit enough to speak to them. |
| Thirty people were injured and Mr Bowker said his drivers were subject to tests to ensure they met high standards and were tested randomly for drink and drugs. | Thirty people were injured and Mr Bowker said his drivers were subject to tests to ensure they met high standards and were tested randomly for drink and drugs. |
| He said: "To be even considered to drive for National Express you have to pass very rigorous tests and the recruitment test, particularly around drugs and alcohol, is very tough. | He said: "To be even considered to drive for National Express you have to pass very rigorous tests and the recruitment test, particularly around drugs and alcohol, is very tough. |
| "Once you are driving for National Express then the standards to which you have to perform are higher in terms of drink than the legal requirement. | "Once you are driving for National Express then the standards to which you have to perform are higher in terms of drink than the legal requirement. |
| "We randomly test and that means that it is extremely likely that you will be caught at some point." | "We randomly test and that means that it is extremely likely that you will be caught at some point." |
| Cut free | Cut free |
| The single-decker coach clipped a kerb, hit a lamppost and a tree and toppled over on to the driver's side in the accident. | The single-decker coach clipped a kerb, hit a lamppost and a tree and toppled over on to the driver's side in the accident. |
| The six with serious injuries were taken to hospitals in Milton Keynes, Northampton and Oxford. | The six with serious injuries were taken to hospitals in Milton Keynes, Northampton and Oxford. |
| The driver, who had to be cut free from the wreckage, was breath-tested at the scene and is being treated for an injured arm and cracked ribs. | The driver, who had to be cut free from the wreckage, was breath-tested at the scene and is being treated for an injured arm and cracked ribs. |
| Three of his passengers are still being treated at Northampton hospital. They are a woman, 45, from Church Stretton near Shrewsbury, Shropshire; a man, 60, from Goussanoville in France and a man, 28, from Coventry. | Three of his passengers are still being treated at Northampton hospital. They are a woman, 45, from Church Stretton near Shrewsbury, Shropshire; a man, 60, from Goussanoville in France and a man, 28, from Coventry. |
| A woman, 57, from Victoria, Australia, and a man, 20, from Gdansk, Poland, are being treated at Milton Keynes General Hospital. | A woman, 57, from Victoria, Australia, and a man, 20, from Gdansk, Poland, are being treated at Milton Keynes General Hospital. |
| A further two passengers - a woman, 39, from Worcester and a man, 61, from Kenilworth, Warwickshire, are being treated at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. | A further two passengers - a woman, 39, from Worcester and a man, 61, from Kenilworth, Warwickshire, are being treated at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. |
| Return to story | Return to story |