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Bus Crash Devon

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father_jack

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Seems rather serious.

https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/double-decker-bus-crash-declared-3396340

Double decker bus crash declared 'major incident' with reports of 20 people trapped

The double decker has crashed into a field


A major incident has been declared in South Devon after a double decker bus overturned on a busy road.

The Gold Stagecoach double decker bus had been travelling from on the A385 between Totnes and Paignton when it left the road, as shown in these pictures.

Reports from eyewitnesses suggest that up to 20 people may be trapped on the bus, though this has not been confirmed. It is not yet known if anyone has been injured.

The incident happened just before 11am between Southfield (Paignton) and Saxon Meadow (Totnes) near Lombcombe Cross.

The road is closed and people are being advised to stay away from the area.

These pictures sent to Devon Live show the bus on its side in a hedge.

They also show police officers closing the road.

Both Devon and Cornwall Police and Devon County Councillor Stuart Hughes have tweeted to say the crash is being treated as a major incident.

The police Tweeted: "We have just been informed of a major incident following a collision involving a double-decker bus on the A385 between Totnes and Paignton, near to Lombcrombe Cross.

"Details are still emerging, in the meantime can we please avoid the area.

"Closures are expected to remain in place for the considerable future. Ambulance are on the scene and other emergency services en route.

"Closures in place at Berry Pomeroy RAB. We will have more information as we have it.
 
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TheGrandWazoo

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Seen on BBC website https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-49944705
“A double-decker bus has overturned in Devon, leaving people trapped inside.

The vehicle crashed on the A385 between Totnes and Paignton near Lombcrombe Cross, at about 11:00 BST.

All the passengers have now been freed by the emergency services, who have declared a major incident. Police have closed the road in both directions and asked people to avoid the area.

Police said that one person has been left with serious injures and more than a dozen with minor injuries.

The air ambulance was sent to the crash, alongside several traditional ambulances and patient transport vehicles.

The road is expected to be closed for "considerable time", according to police”
Obviously, goes without saying that first thoughts must be with those affected and pray that those injured make a full recovery.

No need to speculate on other factors.
 
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DaveHarries

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Thoughts indeed to all the injured and I join in the hope that they will make a full recovery.

Dave
 

MarkC

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Thoughts Indeed to all involved. Passengers and the driver. Awful news but hopefully all will make full recovery.
 

Bus Lightyear

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Very worrying incident for everyone involved. I sincerely hope that all affected make a full recovery.
 

Jordan Adam

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Hopefully all escaped and everyone is okay. Overturn incidents with deckers in the UK are quite rare these days.
 

westcoaster

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Hope everyone involved is ok, and makes a good recovery.

Wonder if it was as simple as dropping a wheel on the verge (that gave way).
 

DaveHarries

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The location is slightly mis-spelt. It is Longcombe Cross which is near Berry Pomeroy. The BBC have put a map on their website as a clarification.

On another note the Devon General Omnibus Society have posted to Facebook that the open day planned for Exeter depot for Sunday 06th October has now been cancelled. No reason given on the FB post so it may or may not relate to the RTC on the A385. The ScSW website is, however, still advertising the event.
www.facebook.com/devongeneralsociety/posts/533653204126031

Dave[/U]
 

Jozhua

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No fatalities fortunately.

Still not great, although this is the first time I've heard of it happening!

What features do double deckers have to prevent toppling if any and are there adjustments made to the top decks to protect passengers in a case like this?
 

Mitchell Hurd

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That's awful.

In a 'BUSES' magazine over a year ago I think, possibly 2, a First Group Volvo Olympian / Northern Counties (N-reg I think) was reported overturned while well loaded.

I think that's why I'd say all buses have an emergency exit window both sides incase of this.

As well as for the people onboard, my worry is how long it will be before the bus starts smoking!

I'm guessing the diesel Stagecoach use takes stupidly long to catch fire?
 

AM9

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No fatalities fortunately.

Still not great, although this is the first time I've heard of it happening!

What features do double deckers have to prevent toppling if any and are there adjustments made to the top decks to protect passengers in a case like this?
What would you suggest that could stop them toppling over, emergency outriggers/struts?
 

Jordan Adam

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That's awful.

In a 'BUSES' magazine over a year ago I think, possibly 2, a First Group Volvo Olympian / Northern Counties (N-reg I think) was reported overturned while well loaded.

I think that's why I'd say all buses have an emergency exit window both sides incase of this.

As well as for the people onboard, my worry is how long it will be before the bus starts smoking!

I'm guessing the diesel Stagecoach use takes stupidly long to catch fire?

Or just the fact that the tanks probably were not damaged that badly. Roll over incidents like this are why deckers have opening rear windows upstairs, however with high back seating (which this vehicle had) it does somewhat limit the functionality of these.
 

Roilshead

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I'm guessing the diesel Stagecoach use takes stupidly long to catch fire?
The significant property of the fuel here is its flashpoint - the temperature at which its vapour will ignite when exposed to an ignition source (such as a hot engine manifold). Diesel is regarded as a combustible fuel, and has a high flashpoint somewhere between 52-96C (so feel free to handle diesel whilst smoking). Petrol, on the other hand, is regarded as an inflammable fuel, and will ignite at temperatures as low as -43C. DERV PSVs do burn-out, so I'm guessing that if the fuel tanks had ruptured and diesel come into contact with the engine manifold then the temperature would have been sufficient to ignite any vapours, and the story would have been very different . . .
 

DunsBus

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The location is slightly mis-spelt. It is Longcombe Cross which is near Berry Pomeroy. The BBC have put a map on their website as a clarification.

On another note the Devon General Omnibus Society have posted to Facebook that the open day planned for Exeter depot for Sunday 06th October has now been cancelled. No reason given on the FB post so it may or may not relate to the RTC on the A385. The ScSW website is, however, still advertising the event.
www.facebook.com/devongeneralsociety/posts/533653204126031

Dave[/U]

The DGOC Facebook page and the Stagecoach South West sites have both now been updated with the announcement of the cancellation of the open day.
 

Busaholic

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Four air ambulances, eight seriously injured, the fire service had to cut holes in the roof of the bus to extricate some people. Just because there were no fatalities at the scene doesn't mean this wasn't an extremely serious incident. Thirty odd years in S.W. England and I've NEVER heard of deployment of 4 air ambulances, even in the worst M5 crashes. From the photos, another Stagecoach d'd (unscathed) was in the vicinity at the time, too.
 

cnjb8

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The location is slightly mis-spelt. It is Longcombe Cross which is near Berry Pomeroy. The BBC have put a map on their website as a clarification.

On another note the Devon General Omnibus Society have posted to Facebook that the open day planned for Exeter depot for Sunday 06th October has now been cancelled. No reason given on the FB post so it may or may not relate to the RTC on the A385. The ScSW website is, however, still advertising the event.
www.facebook.com/devongeneralsociety/posts/533653204126031

Dave[/U]
BBC spelt Edinstowe here in Nottinghamshire as Edwinstone so they have history.
Hope everyone is alright.
 

henairs

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Thoughts go out to all involved and prayers for a speedy recovery for all injured passengers and driver.

Must have been very frightening.

Mike R
 

TheGrandWazoo

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No fatalities fortunately.

Still not great, although this is the first time I've heard of it happening!

What features do double deckers have to prevent toppling if any and are there adjustments made to the top decks to protect passengers in a case like this?

Buses are designed and built to exacting safety standards and construction and use regulations. Vehicles are expected to remain upright up to a minimum of 28 degrees. This is aided obviously by the fact that most of the weight is chassis based.

That's awful.

In a 'BUSES' magazine over a year ago I think, possibly 2, a First Group Volvo Olympian / Northern Counties (N-reg I think) was reported overturned while well loaded.

I think that's why I'd say all buses have an emergency exit window both sides incase of this.

As well as for the people onboard, my worry is how long it will be before the bus starts smoking!

I'm guessing the diesel Stagecoach use takes stupidly long to catch fire?

Buses do have, and have always had, exits on both sides for this very eventuality.

As for saying diesel takes stupidly long to catch fire.... well, that perhaps isn't the best phraseology to use. It's rather fortunate in many incidents that it doesn't. Other posters have mentioned about relative flashpoints. In most accidents, as in this one, fire is not an issue thankfully. When fires do occur, they are seldom fuel related.

This was a serious incident and one can only hope that the injured make a fast and full recovery. In the circumstances, cancellation of the open day is the correct decision.
 

father_jack

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Devon live reporting this
https://www.devonlive.com/news/devo...k.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebar

Driver in horror double-decker bus crash was aged 19, union claims

The bus was full and 37 people were injured - eight seriously - in the major incident

The driver of the Stagecoach Gold double-decker bus which overturned on Saturday morning was aged 19, a transport union official has claimed.

Police are investigating what happened and talking to the bus driver, who has not been arrested.
RMT regional union organiser Barry West told Devon Live: “The driver is 19. He passed his passenger carrying vehicle (PCV) driving test in July this year.

“This was the first time he had ever driven this route, which is a challenging road full of twists and turns in places.”

Transport firm Stagecoach says it will not comment on the driver's details and has told Devon Live that CCTV of the crash has been handed over to the police for their investigation.

A Stagecoach South West spokesman said: “We can confirm the vehicle was driven by a fully trained and fully qualified".

Bob Dennison, Managing Director for Stagecoach South West said: “Our continuing thoughts are with our customers and the driver involved in the accident, particularly those customers who remain in hospital.


“We would like to thank the emergency services for their prompt and professional response to the incident and also the members of the public who assisted at the scene.

“We are continuing to support the police with their investigation into the accident and have provided CCTV footage from the bus to help establish the circumstances involved.”

The Stagecoach Gold Charter commitment for drivers, seen by Devon Live, says it will: "Train you to the highest standards, which will enable you to be able to deliver the highest possible standards."



Mr West said: "To drive a vehicle of this size requires not only training, mentoring and ability, but most important is that companies take into account the road experience of any individual.


"Age can be and is a contributory factor in Road traffic collisions and accidents.

"What we don’t know yet is if it is mechanical, down to driver error, inexperience, road conditions or an external The aftermath of the crash was seen by the owner of Riviera Motors, at Longcombe Cross, who confirmed that he has seen at least three vehicles crash off the road at the same spot.

Mr Bennett, who owns Riviera Motors, said: "I have been here 15 years and I have seen at least three vehicles come off the road into that field.
 
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overthewater

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Isn't the legal age for a bus driver 21? Also Clearly the driver was NOT fully trained, if this is the first time he was on the route, where was his mentor?
 

buslad1988

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Isn't the legal age for a bus driver 21? Also Clearly the driver was NOT fully trained, if this is the first time he was on the route, where was his mentor?

Not sure his age is relevant. It’s perfectly legal and he’s been trained and passed all his PSV licence requirements.

From my past experience with three companies (none of which are Stagecoach) generally mentors are only with new drivers for a matter of days and you aren’t trained on every single route... it’s up to you to learn them.
 

Mwanesh

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You dont do a route unless you have been signed off by your mentor. The union guy is well out of order. If he is representing the driver, then the driver has no chance.
 

Tetchytyke

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Perhaps it's me but I really don't think a union official should be saying anything to the press until an investigation has been carried out.

I'm assuming the poor driver is really guilty of not wanting to join the RMT...

(As an aside, the scariest driving I've ever seen was an older driver who'd had years to establish all those bad habits!)
 

Mitchell Hurd

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Isn't the legal age for a bus driver 21? Also Clearly the driver was NOT fully trained, if this is the first time he was on the route, where was his mentor?

Even I'm wondering this. On my local Stagecoach routes (Oxfordshire), a driver would have mentor with him. Or to put it another way, if a service is worked by a regular driver, you'd occasionally have a new driver onboard, in this case he or she is a passenger, who's learning the route.

If the location where the bus overturned is well-known for accidents then maybe the council should reduce the speed limit to say 40mph.
 
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