Trathens Tragedy

Sadly there is really only one story I can lead with tonight and that is the horrific accident near London last night:
TWO people died and dozens more were injured when a coach bound for Scotland overturned.
The horrific accident, near Heathrow Airport, has left 10 people, including children, in a serious condition. Two are fighting for their lives. The 10.30pm National Express bus from London Victoria to Aberdeen overturned on the slip road leading from the M4 to the M25 at 11.45pm.
It was due to stop at Hamilton and Glasgow, where the majority of the 67 passengers on board were heading. All the passengers and the two drivers were taken to six hospitals in London.
Sixteen ambulances, four rapid response cars, a number of doctors, three patient transport vehicles and an equipment support vehicle from the London Ambulance Service had all rushed to the scene of the crash.
National Express also confirmed that the vehicle involved in the crash was owned by Parks of Hamilton and the drivers would have been from the Lanarkshire firm.
Laws were brought in September last year that made it compulsory for coach passengers to wear seat belts.

As this story is such a big one there are lots of horrific and graphic reports of the injuries sustained by passengers in all the papers today. The coach was one of the brand new Neoplan Skyliners operated out of Plymouth by Trathens, now of course owned by Parks of Hamilton.

No doubt we will soon learn what caused this accident, the driver has alreadybeen arrested under suspicion on dangerous driving, although Police were keen to stress that investigations into the cause are continuing.
My thoughts and prayers go out for the passengers and their families.

Late news - all the Skyliners are being taken off the road by National Express as a precautionary move. More details to follow