Briton dies in coach crash

A BRITISH woman died yesterday when a coach carrying British tourists to an airport in Turkey was involved in a head-on smash with a taxi.

All five Turkish people in the car - from the same family - were also killed in the collision.

Initial reports said three holidaymakers had died but the British Embassy in Ankara said only one Briton died.

The Airtours coach was carrying 38 tourists from the resort of Kusadasi to Izmir airport for a return flight to Gatwick when the accident happened. The taxi was allegedly travelling on the wrong side of the road.

An Airtours spokeswoman said those on board the bus were taken to five local hospitals, where 24 of the injuredwere still receiving treatment. Ten are reported to have suffered serious injury, she said,while 13 had been released. The passengers were from south-east England.

The British Embassy saidmany of the injured suffered broken bones and concussion.

The AA said that Turkey had a bad record on the roads, with 15 times as many deaths and accidents as in Britain.