Two Britons killed in Turkish coach crash

Two British tourists were among four people killed yesterday when a holiday coach veered off a road and into a group of sunbathers on a busy Turkish beach.

Margaret Hyde, 70, and Carl Alexander, 33, were killed after the coach careered into them – also injuring Mr Alexander's girlfriend, who was among nine other Britons injured.

The couple, believed to be from the south of England, were halfway through a two-week holiday in the Mediterranean resort town of Olu Deniz, near Fethiye, famed for its picturesque lagoon.

The coach, transferring 25 British tourists travelling with Direct Holidays, a subsidiary of Airtours, from Dalaman Airport to Olu Deniz, suffered a brake failure as it drove down a steep hill towards the resort shortly after 2pm. The bus careered across the road, slamming into a minibus before crashing on to the beach and into the sea.

Two people on the coach were injured and taken to hospitals in nearby Fethiye, along with seven people from the beach.

Bus accidents are common in Turkey, where poor roads and infrequent police checks have contributed to one of the worst traffic fatality rates in the world.