Road closed after school bus grounded
A BUSY road in Mutley was closed for almost two hours after a coach full of French schoolchildren became wedged on a hill.
The long Aiglons coach was attempting to turn right onto Alexandra Road from the steep Lipson Hill when its rear end got stuck on the raised road, opposite the Vale Service Station.
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The long Aiglons coach was attempting to turn right onto Alexandra Road
Straddling both lanes of traffic, the incident caused immediate gridlock in the area and after failed attempts to move the bus, the driver admitted defeat and police were called to the scene.
Service station manager Nick Paull (corr), who witnessed the drama unfold, said more than 40 children were on board the French bus at the time.
”I was looking out of the window when it happened,” he said. “The driver grounded the back end and it didn’t look like he was ever going to make it out.
“He was literally just wedged in, he was never going to get around the corner because he’d lost all the traction in his back wheels.”
Police closed the road in both directions at around 5.50pm on Monday and firefighters from Greenbank were called to try and get the vehicle back on the road.
Video filmed by local resident Matthew Randle.
Their attempts also proved fruitless and eventually a tow truck was called to haul the heavy coach back up the hill.
The children were transferred to another bus, belonging to a different French firm, while the road was finally reopened at 7.30pm, leaving both the road and coach with minor damage.
A spokesman for coach operator Voyages Aiglons, based in L’Aigle, in the Orne region of Northern France, said the company was aware of the incident, but could not comment further.
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20 Comments
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by AS, Plymouth
Wednesday, April 08 2009, 7:56AM
“Hope he does'nt forget to pay his £1,000 for a road being closed in Plymouth LOL”
by Big Bobbit, Mutley
Wednesday, April 08 2009, 12:34AM
“We saw this on the way back from the mother-in-law's and laughed so much we were crying! Even my car scrapes on the front turning left at that junction so it was only a matter of time before something like this happened!
We were still chuckling about it today as we drove through.....”
by KW, Leicester
Wednesday, April 08 2009, 12:02AM
“Plymouth is full of hills no matter where you go. It has taken me a while to get used to them I am fine with them now as I visit regularly. They are probably a lot steeper than what the coach driver was used to.”
by Angie, Woolwell
Tuesday, April 07 2009, 5:17PM
“The Herald inflicts Google Earth images on us for the daftest things but when it might be of use like here the graphics bod in the IT department does not seem to be awake.”
by mike, london, uk
Tuesday, April 07 2009, 5:16PM
“its a mistake anybody could make when in a different country with different road building standards. If you criticise people for things like this you are a fool as anybody could do this when driving in an unfamiliar area. Driving a vehicle doesnt make you superior to anybody else.”
by Denise, Mutley
Tuesday, April 07 2009, 5:11PM
“Surely there were enough kids on the bus to lift the back round so that he could have made a run under the railway bridge and up into Ashford Road?”
by Sandra, Hillcrest
Tuesday, April 07 2009, 5:08PM
“I admire the free thinking driver, at least he tried to escape the North Hill Mutley gridlock. Both roads should be closed to through traffic and commuters entering the city from the north directed around Milehouse to Alma Road.”
by Andrew, Durnford Street
Tuesday, April 07 2009, 5:05PM
“The junction needs reconstructing especially if the steep derelict land above to the south is to be covered in high density flats.”
by Reg, Pike Road
Tuesday, April 07 2009, 5:03PM
“Is Nick Paull paying for his advertising?”
by Ken, Greenbank
Tuesday, April 07 2009, 4:48PM
“The coach driver was probably distracted by the exorbitant fuel prices on display at Vale Service Petrol Station, they are always 3 - 5pence higher than anywhere else!!!”