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Cornwall coach crash kills one and injures more than 50 as police declare 'major incident'
Cornwall coach crash: Driver arrested after two people are killed and seven seriously injured
(about 4 hours later)
A coach carrying a large number of pensioners has crashed into a wall near Looe in Cornwall, killing one person and injuring more than 50.
The driver of a coach packed with pensioners that crashed on a steep hill in Cornwall has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, police have said.
Devon and Cornwall Police have declared a "major incident", and said that the vehicle was believed to be full of passengers aged 60 or over at the time.
Two people were killed and seven more seriously injured in the crash, which happened just before 1pm today as the bus headed from Plymouth to Looe.
A spokesperson said that "one person, a passenger, has died from injuries sustained in the collision", adding that police could not provide details on the age or sex of the person "at this time".
Air ambulances, doctors and fire crews raced to the scene, where several people were treated for minor injuries and two of the casualties were flown to hospital. It is understood that the 57-year-old driver escaped injury and no other vehicles were involved.
The crash occurred at around 1pm this afternoon on the A387 at Morval. The coach was on its way from Plymouth at the time, and the emergency services were reported saying the vehicle had been travelling down a steep hill when it crashed.
Roberta Powley, who lives in the nearby village of No Man’s Land, said: “I was told the coach crashed at the Snooty Fox, and that is up a very steep hill.”
According to the South Western Ambulance Service, a total of 54 casualties were being assessed, with four people taken to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, two of them by air ambulance.
The steep downhill approach into Morval on the A387, in the direction of Looe, has warning signs and a 'slow' sign
A statement issued this afternoon said that, in addition to the fatality, eight people were believed to have serious injuries and 45 were described as "walking wounded".
Another local told the Cornish Guardian that the coach had “careered down the hill”.
The steep downhill approach into Morval on the A387, in the direction of Looe, has warning signs and a 'slow' sign Those able to walk were directed to a nearby village hall to be assessed by doctors.
“It turned on its side and all the windows blew out and it lost all the glass,” she said.
Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service said three of its crews attended the crash, in addition to three air ambulances and two search and rescue helicopters.
Devon and Cornwall Police said there were about 40 people on the bus, all believed to be aged 60 or over.
Police said the A387 at Morval had been closed as a result of the incident.
Roberta Powley, who lives in the nearby village of No Man's Land, said she had been told the coach had been taking pensioners on a trip to Looe when it crashed near the Snooty Fox country hotel.
Passengers were taken to the nearby Memorial Hall, where locals handed out tea and coffee.
Ms Powley said: "I think they were all OAPs on a trip. they were heading down to Looe. I was told the coach crashed at the Snooty Fox, and that is up a very steep hill going down into Looe."
