Two killed, 47 hurt in coach crash

Dec 23 2009

Two women died and another 47 people were injured after a coach overturned in treacherous icy conditions during what was one of the coldest nights of the year.

The vehicle, which was carrying 48 passengers and a driver back from a trip to see a Christmas lights attraction, left the road and ended up on its side on Tuesday night near Penzance in Cornwall, Devon and Cornwall Police said.

It came as the wintry weather continued for another day, with temperatures plunging as low as -10C in southern England and prompting widespread icy road warnings and more travel disruption.

Devon and Cornwall Police said road surfaces were "treacherous" in the area of the crash - which was near the town of Hayle - and have not ruled out the conditions as being a contributory factor.

A rescue helicopter was called in from RAF Chivenor in Devon to help ferry the wounded people to hospital in Truro.

One of two victims - who were both from the west Cornwall area - was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other died in hospital.

Temperatures were said to have been -1C or lower in Cornwall, but far colder in other parts of the country already suffering amid the freezing weather.

Middle Wallop in Hampshire - one of the worst-hit counties by this week's snowstorms - was one of England's coldest spots overnight at around -10C.

Temperatures in parts of London fell to -6C, with Glasgow as low as -9C, Cardiff -2C and the same temperature in Manchester. Dalwhinnie in the central highlands looked to be one of the coldest spots this year, at -16C - just short of the -18C recorded at Aviemore in February.

As many as 12 million people are expected to travel to family and friends on Wednesday and Thursday, according to the AA, making it one of the busiest periods of the year. The Met Office has issued several warnings of "widespread icy roads" for most of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.