Date: 07/31/2008
Time: Around 8:30 A.M.
Location: Dorset, England, United Kingdom
Vehicle(s) Involved: Volkswagen Golf, Porsche 911, bus
By Richard Savill and John Bingham
"Fifteen people, including several children, were sent tumbling from the
double-decker but walked away with only minor injuries after a "soft
landing" on heather.
The driver of a black Porsche turbo car was arrested at the scene after the
accident on a coastal route through National Trust land near Studland in
Dorset.
It is believed the car collided with a red Volkswagen Golf on a bend moments
before the bus - a regular Swanage to Bournemouth service popular with
tourists - approached.
As the bus driver attempted unsuccessfully to avoid a knock-on crash, the
15-ton bus toppled over a verge and slid down an embankment onto the
adjoining heath land.
Those on top were sent tumbling onto the ground while passengers in the lower
deck scrambled for fire exits.
Emergency services declared a "major incident", even temporarily
requisitioning the nearby ferry to the exclusive Sandbanks peninsula to help
with the rescue effort.
But of the 30 people classed as injured, most suffered only shock or cuts and
bruises.
Police said the worst injury was a 61-year-old woman's broken arm.
The four occupants of the Golf, a couple and two young children, were
airlifted by coastguard helicopter to Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester
with cuts and bruises and five others were taken away by ambulance for
check-ups.
But 20 others needed little more than a cup of tea at the nearby Knoll House
Hotel.
The helicopter then scoured the surrounding heath land with heat-seeking
equipment to ensure no one had been left unaccounted for.
Most of those on board the bus were believed to be holidaymakers and
children's inflatable beach toys were left scattered around it.
Passenger Rachel Eveling, 41, from Alderbury, Wilts, said: “There was a little
girl screaming as her mum was lying on top of her, she was screaming 'get
off me’ as her mum could not seem to move.
“I also saw an elderly couple with a child who were very upset.
“It was actually quite amazing as some people began to get up very quickly and
it became apparent 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 heath
land.
"Luckily the heather and gorse was nice and soft and that appears to have
broken their fall. They were very lucky."
Dorset Police arrested a 43-year-old man from Wimborne on suspicion of
dangerous driving. He suffered superficial injuries in the crash.
"I think the (bus) driver has tried to avoid the collision and has taken
that route off the verge into the gorse," Senior investigating officer
Sergeant Nikki Burt said.
"It's the drop that has caused the bus to topple.
"I think the toppling over was slow as opposed to people being flung out
and I think that is due to the skill of the driver."
Steve Smith, from Dorset Ambulance Service, said: "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."
Chris Harris, a spokesman for Wilts and Dorset bus company, said the route was
run all-year round but extra buses are laid on during the summer, including
open-topped.
"It is a very, very popular run, the scenery is magnificent," he
said.
He added that the company was "very, very sorry"."
Source
