Major Incident Declared As Double-Decker Bus Overturns

More than a dozen people have been injured.
|
Open Image Modal
Picture from the scene of Saturday's crash
@DC_PoliceBiker

Up to eight people are believed to have been seriously injured after a double-decker bus overturned in a crash in Devon, police have said.

Devon and Cornwall Police said emergency services at the scene following the “serious” incident on the A385 Totnes Road between Totnes and Paignton at around 11am on Saturday. 

In a statement the force said: “A double-decker bus has overturned and a number of passengers have sustained injuries.

“Currently we believe that one person has sustained serious injuries.

“We also have over a dozen people who have sustained minor injuries and remain at the scene.”

Police said the South Western Ambulance Service had declared the collision a “major incident” and sent ambulance, patient transport vehicles and the air ambulance to provide support.

Photos shared by DevonLive show the Stagecoach Gold double-decker bus overturned on its side in a field next to the road. 

 A witness told the website: “Very bad accident outside Totnes.

“There are many people with very severe injuries. Maybe 20 with some trapped.

“I was passing and stopped to help but a lot of people too injured to move.”

A spokesman for Stagecoach South West said: “We can confirm one of our buses has been involved in an incident on the A385 between Paignton and Totnes. 

 “Emergency services are at the scene. Our immediate thoughts are for those involved and we are helping the emergency services in any way that we can.

“Safety is our absolute priority and we will be assisting the investigation into the circumstances involved in the incident.”

 Police said road closures would remain in place “for hours” near the scene and advised drivers to avoid the area.