One dead, 48 hurt after coach crash

Dec 23 2009

One person has died and 48 others were injured after a coach flipped over on an icy road, police said.

The vehicle - which was carrying passengers back from a trip to see some Christmas lights - ended up on its roof near Penzance, Cornwall, on Tuesday night.

Of the 48 people hurt, five were described as seriously injured, one critically, and the rest "walking wounded".

The crash came as temperatures plunged across the country during the current bout of wintry Christmas weather, causing widespread icy roads.

Devon and Cornwall Police said road conditions were "treacherous" in the area of the crash and hampered the efforts of the rescue services to get to the scene.

It happened in the village of Townshend, near Hayle in north Cornwall, which is about seven miles north east of Penzance. An RAF helicopter from Chivenor was sent to help evacuate casualties to Treliske Hospital in Truro.

A police spokesman said the fatality was a woman, who was pronounced dead at the scene. There were no details yet about the injuries of the other wounded people.

The 48 coach passengers - who are all thought to be from the west Cornwall area - had been on a trip to see the Christmas lights in the seaside village of Mousehole.

Asked whether the icy conditions had played a part in the crash, a police spokesman added: "Officers aren't ruling out the fact that that might be a contributory factor."

Forecasters said the lowest temperatures in Cornwall on Tuesday night would have been as low as minus 1C (30F), but could have been lower in isolated rural spots. A phone line - 0800 056 0154 - has been set up for concerned relatives.