Breaking: 12 passengers hurt, one with life-threatening injuries, after coach crashes into bridge on M6

A serious crash shut the M6 near Coventry on Tuesday evening (10th January), amidst reports that a coach has crashed into the central reservation.

The ambulance service were called at 9.42pm and sent multiple resources to the scene including six ambulances, four paramedic officers, the Trust’s Hazardous Area Response Team, a MERIT trauma doctor, a BASICS doctor and the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance Critical Care Car.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “On arrival crews discovered multiple patients, including a man who was a passenger on the coach, in a serious condition.

“The driver of the coach, a man, had to be freed with assistance from the fire service whilst receiving treatment by medics, a process which took approximately two hours. He, together with a third man, who was a passenger, were both treated for potentially serious injuries before being taken to the same hospital.

“A further nine patients from the coach were treated for injuries not believed to be serious before being taken to George Eliot and Warwick Hospitals.”

Police said that one of the injuries was believed to be life-threatening at this time.

Both sides of the motorway were shut at J2 for M69 (Coventry) after the crash which happened not long before 10PM.

Onlookers report seeing a huge emergency response, after a coach, understood to be National Express, went across both sides of the carriageway.

The motorway continued to have lanes closed off through Wednesday morning for repairs.

INRIX, the traffic and travel people said:”One lane closed and very slow traffic due to barrier repairs and earlier accident on M6 in both directions at J2 M69 (Coventry).The road has reopened with lane three (of three) remaining closed in both directions following an accident which closed the motorway overnight.”

National Highways put out a tweet around 11:20PM which said:”#M6 #Warwickshire is closed in both directions within J2 due to a serious collision. @warkspolice[1][2][3]

”Traffic is being diverted via the exit and entry slip roads. Delays of 60 minutes above normal travel times, allow extra time for your journey. Thank you for your patience.”

References

  1. ^ #M6 (twitter.com)
  2. ^ #Warwickshire (twitter.com)
  3. ^ @warkspolice (twitter.com)