Man killed, 16 taken to hospital, after bus crash
A MAN has been killed and 16 people have been taken to hospital, two by air ambulance, after a crash which shut a major Devon road yesterday morning.
A Mercedes van driver was pronounced dead at the scene following a collision with a double decker bus on the A379 near Dream Machine Motorcycles, Modbury at 11.30am yesterday.
Eight people, some with serious injuries, were taken by a fleet of ambulances to Derriford Hospital. Another eight people who were not badly hurt were taken to Kingsbridge Hospital for check-ups by another bus.
The police helicopter, Devon Air Ambulance and four road ambulances ferried casualties to Derriford and Kingsbridge hospitals.
Four fire crews worked to remove the casualties from the bus, wedged between the van and a steep tree-lined bank.
Police said that the First double decker bus was heading towards Modbury when it collided with the Mercedes van belonging to an electrical parts company which was heading towards Kingsbridge at 11.30am. The accident happened on a narrow stretch of road surrounded by steep banks.
The front of the van belonging to Edmundson Electrical was badly crumpled against the front passenger side of the double decker bus completely blocking both lanes of the road. Edmundson Electrical have declined to comment.
Police and firefighters were yesterday afternoon preparing to cut free the dead man’s body behind screens.
It is thought the road will be closed until about 6pm tonight while accident investigators work and the wrecked vehicles are removed.
Sergeant Rich Rockey of the Plympton traffic unit said that the driver was still being identified at two o’clock this afternoon.
He said: “It must have been quite traumatic for the passengers some of whom are very elderly. There were several serious injuries but we believe that none were life threatening.
“This has been a major incident for the emergency services.”
Watch Commander, Nigel Toms, from Modbury fire station said that it was a very difficult operation to remove the casualties from the bus.
He said: “We had to put through some of the windows to remove some of the casualties on spinal boards. Our usual ways into the bus were blocked by the van and the bank beside it.
“There are a number of people who were injured on the bus and also distressed.”
Three air ambulance were scrambled but only one actually made it to the scene, three miles east of Modbury.
An ambulance spokesman said: “We have taken people to Derriford Hospital with range of injuries, including spinal, neck and hand injuries.”
Police have said that the driver of the van was 55-years-old.
The road was closed from Bamford Cross roundabout and diversions were put in place.
It was finally reopened at 11pm last night.
First bus spokesman Duncan McGraw said the double-decker bus was operating service 93 between Plymouth and Dartmouth when it was in collision with a white van.
He said: “The driver and some passengers from our bus were injured.
“We have sent our own accident investigators and are working closely with the local police to discover the cause of the accident.”
Nearly two hours after the crash, the First bus was still at the scene.
A Derriford Hospital spokeswoman said staff were coping well with the influx and it was "business as usual" for the emergency department.
39 Comments
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by Gordon, Florida, St Petersburg, Florida USA
Thursday, February 05 2009, 7:47PM
“Benny...again you astound Me with your cynicism.....if everyone took your advice and gave charitable donations to cancer research, because more people suffer from that devastating illness, then pray tell Me what would happen to, for example, special children's units, that are there because a child has a RARE disease....not many having it, so we shouldn't fund it, because it's a waste of money? Hardly a decent reason is it? The air ambulance provides a unique and additional benefit to the region, for those ill or injured in remote or difficult to get to spots, as well as helping to expidite treatment.....surely instead of advocating funds should be just donated to one charity, wouldn't it be better to suggest that people help as many as possible of these vital services by perhaps dividing their donation amongst their chosen receipients...or is it that you feel majority rule is always right? Please, in future, consider the impact of your comments, perhaps re-read your post before clicking " submit comment"”
by H, plymouth, plymouth
Thursday, February 05 2009, 1:29PM
“Benny Factor, what the hell is with you i hope to god nothing happens 2 u like u fell off a cliff n the only way to rescue u was by air amblance. because then u would think differently it is a ensential bit of kit that saves many lives at beaches n sea accidents and other road accidents where it would take to long for road teams to reach. think about that!!!!!!!!!!
sorry for the loss of any one in this crash”
by Perry, KIngsbridge
Thursday, February 05 2009, 11:09AM
“Obviously freedom of speech is not allowed or tolerated on this message board due to the removal of my earlier comment a very grave thing indeed!!! Many sympathies to the van driver and his family!! But if even a small amount of the monies gathered in road tax were spent on the public highways accidents like this would not happen. As it is are money is squandered by un acountable beurocrats on equal rights for the etnic and sexual monorities etc. As it is i trave this road from kingsbridge to plymouth city centre and back every day and the biggest cause of would be accidents is some people driving too slowly and pother people like myself included looking to overtake. And when u do overtake and get alongside they speed up and keep you in the path of oncoming traffic. This road is vital for the transport of goods in and out of the south hams to Kingsbridge etc and we should have some overtaking lanes so we can get past the reited stockbrockers from kent in their big Mercedes travelling at 25mph who i might add have made it impossible for us locals to find housing in our own areas where we were born and when the council does put plans forward for lo cost housing they object.”
by perry, kingsbridge
Thursday, February 05 2009, 11:07AM
“Obviously freedom of speech is not allowed or tolerated on this message board due to the removal of my earlier comment a very grave thing indeed!!! Many sympathies to the van driver and his family!! But if even a small amount of the monies gathered in road tax were spent on the public highways accidents like this would not. As it is are money is squandered by un acountable beurocrats on equal rights for the etnic and sexual monorities etc. As it is i trave this road from kingsbridge to plymouth city centre and back every day and the biggest cause of would be accidents is some people driving too slowly and pother people like myself included looking to overtake. And when u do overtake and get alongside they speed up and keep you in the path of oncoming traffic. This road is vital for the transport of goods in and out of the south hams to Kingsbridge etc and we should have some overtaking lanes so we can get past the reited stockbrockers from kent in their big Mercedes travelling at 25mph who i might add have made it impossible for us locals to find housing in our own areas where we were born and when the council does put plans forward for lo cost housing they object.”
by Danielle Tout, Plymouth
Thursday, February 05 2009, 11:01AM
“By the way sorry about my sisters appauling attitude i guess she is just being supportive to me. Sorry to all the famlies out there and friends too who knew him. RIP xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx :( xxxxxxxxxxxxx”
by Danielle Tout, Plymouth
Thursday, February 05 2009, 10:58AM
“I am truely missing you, just to know that i was having a lovely cup of tea with you yesterday morning and then to hear a couple of hours you had to pass. I will miss you forever and i guess this means no more cup of teas with you in the morning! ive known you for 5 years and every morning i had a drink with you and suddenly your not there anymore. i guess all i can sya now is goodbye and goodnight and REST IN PEACE forever. Love you and miss you loads. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx”
by SMT, Plymouth
Thursday, February 05 2009, 10:54AM
“Who ever this Benny Factor is, yeh im not being funny this aint to do with some charity case, someone has died and others injured and all you say is it is better for some charity 'blah' 'blah' 'blah' seriously the pictures ive actually seen and the clips on the news, you should be thinking more on the case of a death and injuries. i know you all into F**KNG charities but a loyal friend to my sister is now dead. this is more important, so take your head out of your ass and pay more attention, and this goes to anyone who is saying the same as him. sorry to be nasty but i guess thats the person i am when it comes to someone passing :'( !!!!! x
RIP :( :( :( x x x x x x”
by Benny Factor, City centre.
Thursday, February 05 2009, 10:09AM
“Lee, Gordon, Little Lord, Thanks for your replies. I know the air ambulance is funded by charity; that's why I included that fact in my first post. The government aren't completely daft and won't fund it because it simply does not have the cost benefit ratio of other health measures. Of course you can continue to give money to fund it if you like, but be aware if you are living in a city, or anywhere near a trunk road, you would be far better off giving to cancer research. This disease affects many more people than get stranded on the moors with a twisted ankle.”
by SMT, Plymouth
Thursday, February 05 2009, 9:43AM
“RIP Van driver, i know how devasted some people actually are. My sister came home crying her eyes out, the fact that he had gone. She was having a lovely cup of tea with him the morning before he passed. My love goes out to all family and friends and those who worked with him, but he's better off like that then to survive. i know this sounds cruel but if he had survived that he would of been in pain for the rest of his life. But it would of been better if this didnt happen to him... RIP in heaven forever mate. x x x x x x x”
by Little Lord Fontleroy, The Manor House
Thursday, February 05 2009, 8:01AM
“Bravo Gordon, unfortunately Bennyfactor is nothing but a troll who posts purely to spark a reaction. Air ambulances in areas such as Devon are vital, Dartmoor national park for instance covers over 30,000sqm much of which isn't accesible by land.
The cornwall air ambulance attended my 4 year old last year after injuring himself and they were invaluable. A great bunch of guys (and girls). These machines should be funded by central government.
This accident yesterday was blatantly horrific and the need for the Air Ambulances was fairly obvious due to the location. The fact that ambulances coming from the kingsbridge direction would have only been able to return in that direction unless they wanted to massively extend the journey to plymouth. As always the emergency teams did a great job yesterday in difficult circumstances.
Sorry to the family of the driver of the van.”