One man killed and over 60 injured in coach crash

A man died and two people were seriously injured when a coach plunged down a steep embankment, the emergency services said tonight.

More than 60 were hurt when the coach overturned in the village of Alton, near the Alton Towers theme park, shortly before 6pm.

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.

He added that he believed all the occupants of the coach were from European countries, but the exact nationalities had not been confirmed.

Fire crews were still searching the scene for survivors trapped in the wreckage.

"One man is confirmed dead at the scene and another two people have been seriously injured," ambulance service spokesman Murray MacGregor said.

"Of the two seriously injured, one has been airlifted to Selly Oak Hospital and one has been airlifted to University Hospital North Staffordshire.

"Twenty or so other patients have been taken to hospital."

In a separate statement, an Ambulance Service spokesman added: "A further patient with a head injury has also been transferred by land ambulance to University Hospital North Staffordshire.

"Six other patients have been immobilised using spinal boards and neck collars and also transferred to University Hospital North Staffordshire by land ambulance.

"A further nine patients have suffered minor injuries and have been transferred to local hospitals for further treatment."

He said 44 other patients had been taken to Alton Towers for medical treatment.

Emergency services were called to Alton shortly before 6pm to reports of a coach having left the road after a crash with another vehicle.

Mr MacGregor added: "It is believed that the coach was from the Peterborough area."