Miracle escape for holidaymakers thrown from open-top bus in terrifying crash

[Snowden]

Miracle escape for holidaymakers thrown from open-top bus in terrifying crash


By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 1:38 PM on 31st July 2008


More than 30 holidaymakers had a miracle escape today when they were thrown off an open-top double decker bus in a terrifying crash.

Many of the passengers, including young children, were sent flying from the top deck but escaped serious injury when they landed in soft heather 30ft away.

As the bus lay on its side, horrified people on the lower deck scrambled over seats and smashed glass to reach an emergency exit.

Incredibly the most serious injuries suffered were broken bones while others walked away from the wreckage with just cuts and bruises.

Panic: Passengers were thrown from the open-top bus when it overturned

The smash happened when the Wilts and Dorset bus packed full of tourists was approaching the chain ferry at Poole harbour, Dorset, at 10.14am.

It was leaving the village of Studland when it is thought to have crashed into a black Porche turbo and a red Volkswagen Golf which had collided on a sharp bend.

The 15-ton bus rolled onto its side and ended up in a hedge on the edge of heathland.

The impact sent more than 20 passengers flying out of the top deck and children's inflatable beach toys scattered on the grass.

A coastguard helicopter was scrambled to the scene and flew eight casualties to the Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester.

Injuries varied from a fractured leg to a broken shoulder. Five other victims were rushed by ambulance to Poole Hospital with other minor injuries.

Another 12 'walking wounded' were escorted to the nearby Knoll House Hotel at Studland where they were checked over by paramedics and given cups of tea.

Many were suffering from shock.

Miracle: The bus was full of people and children but no one was seriously hurt

Jock Nairn, station manager for Weymouth fire station, said: 'The bus rolled down an embankment and ended up rolling on its side, throwing the passengers clear.

'When the fire crew from Swanage arrived there was a lot of confusion as a lot of the casualties were lying some way clear of the bus on the heathland.

'Luckily the heather and gorse was nice and soft and that appears to have broken their fall. They were very lucky.

'There were some people downstairs who managed to walk to the back of the bus to the emergency exit, but it must have been very disorientating for them as the bus was on its side.

'Nobody was trapped. We used heavy-duty lifting equipment to lift up the bus to look underneath to check if there was anybody trapped but there wasn't.'

Steve Smith, from Dorset Ambulance Service, added: 'The bus had been involved in a crash with a Porche which remained in the road and another vehicle which disappeared into a bush.

'The bus literally tipped over during the crash and passengers were thrown clear from the top.

'Fortunately they had an extremely lucky escape as they were thrown into healthland consisting of heather.

'It would have been quite a soft landing for them rather than landing on concerte which could have caused serious injuries.

'The worst injuries were suspected broken bones. Some were shoulder and leg injures and others escaped with cuts and bruises.

'The passengers were a mixture of ages but there were some young children who were injured.

'It was incredibly lucky that there were no fatalities or more serious injuries.'

A fleet of 10 ambulances, three fire crews and several police cars dashed to the scene of the crash which involved a number 50 Wilts and Dorset bus.

At one stage the Sandbanks to Studland chain ferry had to close to normal traffic to allow the emergency vehciles on board to reach the scene.

Sergeant Nikki Burt, from Dorset Police's traffic section, said a man, woman and two toddler children were in the Golf and a man aged between 45 to 50 in the Porche.

She said: 'It is too early to say what caused the collision but it involved a Wilts and Dorset bus a Volkswagen Golf and a Porsche.

'The bus and the Golf were heading towards the ferry and the Porsche was travelling in the other direction when they collided.

'The bus ended up on it's side on the nearside verge but as it began to tip, the driver tried to recover it so it rolled quite slowly.

'The passengers on top fell out and landed in heather, ferns and bush which probably helped prevent more serious injuries. Luckily the most serious injury was a suspected fracture.

'There was about 30 passengers on-board and most of those were on the top deck. They are a range of ages from pensioners to children.'

Police accident investigators will remain at the scene for several hours today to establish the cause of the crash.

Chris Harris, a spokesman for Wilts and Dorset bus company, said the bus was the 9.45am service from Swanage to Bournemouth.

He said: 'The bus went on its side and gone down a ditch.'

He did not know exactly how many passengers were aboard the 74 seater bus but added: 'It probably would have been carrying a pretty good load.'

'Sadly there were some casualties but we don't have any details as yet. It does appear there are some walking wounded but no fatalities. Our thoughts are with the people who are hurt.'


A helpline has been set up for worried members of the public who can call 0800 0560944.


Miracle escape for holidaymakers thrown from open-top bus after it overturns | Mail Online

[bhdean]

I am really glad everyone survived. It could have been a lot worse if the ones that were thrown out had landed on a hard surface or in the water. Some people have been trown out of their vehicles and the vehicle then rolled over them, that could have happened here.