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One killed and 60 injured in Staffordshire crash
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-08-19 08:49

One person has been killed and more than 60 injured after a double decker bus came off the road in the Staffordshire village of Alton.

The bus reportedly came down a steep hill, ran through a wall and into a private garden.

Police confirmed one person had been killed and two had been seriously injured. A further 10 were taken to hospital, with the rest, who suffered minor injuries, taken to a makeshift medical centre at Alton Towers theme park.

A spokeswoman for University Hospital Birmingham NHS Trust said: "A 20-year-old woman has been airlifted into Selly Oak Hospital and her injuries are being assessed." Another passenger was taken to University Hospital North Staffordshire.

It is believed the passengers on board, who were on a visit to Alton Towers, were not British, but from European countries. None of them were children.

Two helicopters, eight ambulances, four rapid response cars and a doctor were sent to the scene. Up to 25 firefighters were heavily involved in the rescue operation.

Police confirmed no arrests have been made.

An Ambulance Service spokesman said: "A further patient with a head injury has been transferred by land ambulance to University Hospital North Staffordshire.

"Six other patients have been immobilised using spinal boards and neck collars and also transferred to University Hospital North Staffordshire by land ambulance.

"A further nine patients have suffered minor injuries and have been transferred to local hospitals for further treatment."