Specialist crash investigators have been called to the scene where, on Monday 18th August 2008, a coach crashed down an embankment in Staffordshire, killing one and injuring 70 others.
The coach, which was coming down a hill, failed to make a bend, collided with a car, crashed through a wall and ended up in a garden in Alton, near Alton Towers theme park, just before 6pm. Many of the injured were then taken to Alton Towers where a temporary treatment centre was hastily set up.
Those aboard were from Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, and South Africa and are thought to be from Peterborough. Two people with head injuries were flown to hospital.
The weather provided significant difficulties to those investigating and the driver sustained critical injuries so Police were unable to speak to him.
The man who died was 26 years old and from Poland, police said. ‘The passengers are reported to have been on a trip to Alton Towers.
Murray MacGregor, of West Midlands Ambulance Service, said the coach driver, a man from Lincolnshire, was also seriously injured. "The vast majority of the injured have gone back to their homes," he said.
One woman was airlifted to Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham, while another man and woman were taken to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire in Stoke-on-Trent, also with head injuries.
Martin Bredda, who lives close to the scene of the crash, described the road 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. 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."
Solicitor Arthur Keitch from national personal injury firm Fentons Solicitors who specialises in coach accidents, head & spinal injuries and group actions commented: ‘In the immediate aftermath of this tragic event the Police will be working hard to establsih the cause of the accident. I understand that all of the people on the bus have been accounted for.
‘At Fentons Solicitors we have specialist Polish and Ukrainian (Russian) speaking Personal Injury lawyers who deal successfully with injured people following Road Traffic Accidents. We specialise in head and spinal injuries and we aim to proceed with the case as quickly as possible and obtain urgent interim payments to provide clients with a financial lifeline in the early days following the accident. We are a national law firm and we will arrange appointments in Peterborough without obligation.Our team of expert lawyers are known for their dedication and understanding of people involved in Road Traffic Accidents, especially when English may not be their first language.’
Contact: Mr Arthur Keitch - Solicitor, Fentons LLP
Direct Dial: 0207 291 6580
How can Fentons help?
Fentons have an experienced Road Traffic Accident Department. Our Solicitors have many years of experience in dealing with this difficult area.
If you require further information please contact Arthur Keitch on 0207 291 6580 or fill in the online claims questionnaire.
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