Great Western Coffee Shop

One person has died and more than 50 people have been injured in a crash in Cornwall after a coach hit a hedge.

The vehicle was heading towards Looe between Sandplace and Widegates when it left the road.

Nine people are believed to have serious injuries, five are described as having serious but not life threatening injuries and 40 are walking wounded, South Western Ambulance Service said.

One person has been flown to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth.

Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust on Twitter: "We are receiving the more seriously injured from the collision in Looe; a small number, less than 10 currently."

Devon and Cornwall Police said most of the passengers were believed to be in their 60s or older and a major incident had been declared.

Those who are able to walk will be assessed by doctors at a nearby village hall.

A spokesman for the police said: "The collision has been declared a major incident and numerous emergency services are at the scene dealing with the collision.

"One person, a passenger, has died from injuries. There are no details on the sex or age of this person at this time."

Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service said three crews had attended the crash.

Three air ambulances, two from Devon and one from Cornwall, were sent to the incident.

There are two search and rescue helicopters on the scene, one from RNAS Culdrose, near Helston in Cornwall, and one from RMB Chivenor, near Barnstaple in Devon.

The A387 at Morval has been closed to traffic.

Cornwall coach crash: Two people dead and 50 injured

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Two people have died and more than 50 people have been injured in a crash in Cornwall when a coach hit a wall.

Eight people have been critically injured, police said. The vehicle was heading towards Looe between Sandplace and Widegates when it left the road.

Eleven people have been taken to hospital by air and land ambulance, police added. The force described the other passengers as "walking wounded".

The coach was on a day trip from Exmouth, in Devon, said the coach owner, Carmel Coaches which is based in Exeter. On its website the firm said: "Carmel Coaches extends our deepest sympathies to those involved in today's accident. We are co-operating with the authorities in the investigation of this tragic event."

Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust said on Twitter: "We are receiving the more seriously injured from the collision in Looe; a small number, less than 10 currently."

The coach was apparently diverted from the preferred route, due to the road still being closed after a previous landslip: see http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-21929808

The driver at the wheel of a coach that crashed in Cornwall killing two people has been released on police bail.

A 57-year-old driver from Exeter was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

The coach careered into a hedge and struck a wall on a steep hill at Morval, near Looe, on Tuesday.

Two women died and four passengers remain in Derriford Hospital in Plymouth. All 50 passengers were on an Age Concern trip from Exmouth.

Prayers for victims

One woman died at the scene while a second woman was pronounced dead on arrival at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth.

Passengers who were not seriously injured were assessed by medics at the scene before returning later to Exmouth to tearful reunions with relatives.

Enid Goldup, a passenger on the coach, said: "When we hit the trees at the side all the glass came in down the side. There was glass everywhere.

"The lady in the corner died, it was really horrible, it was terrible."

Father Trevor Smyth, from All Saints Church in Exmouth, said it was "desperately sad".

"There is great shock and sadness, obviously for the families of those who have died and those who are critically ill. Also, those who have been injured - but also for the coach driver, the coach firm and anybody connected with this." He added an evening Mass would be held at the church at 18:00 BST and "everyone will be praying for them".

A police spokesman said the coach driver, from Exeter, had been released on police bail until 11 August.

Any coach company worth their salt checks traffic info in advance & briefs their driver, so that should have come as no surprise. Unless coach was mechanically defective in some way, IMHO can't see it being anything other than driver error.

Alternatively did he ...

Cornwall coach crash: Three still in hospital

Three people on a coach which crashed in Cornwall killing two women, are still in hospital a week later.

The vehicle hit a hedge and then struck a wall at Morval, near Looe on 13 May.

One person is in a critical condition and two are described as being stable by a Devon and Cornwall Police spokesman.

The 57-year-old driver from Exeter has been released on bail after being arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

All 50 passengers were on an Age Concern trip from Exmouth.

One woman died at the scene while a second woman was pronounced dead on arrival at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth.

Passengers who were not seriously injured were assessed by medics at the scene before returning to Exmouth.

Coach crash company Carmel loses licence
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Carmel Coaches runs a number of local bus routes including schools services

A Devon bus and coach company has lost its licence over safety concerns.

Carmel Coaches runs a number of local bus routes including schools services and private hire from bases in Northlew and Exeter.

Sarah Bell, Traffic Commissioner for the West of England, has made an order to revoke its licence and those of two of its directors from the end of July.

Issues included serious defects not being fixed and poor record keeping of safety issues over a number of years.

One of the company's vehicles was involved in a coach crash at Looe in Cornwall on 13 May in which two people died.

The commissioner had gathered her evidence before the crash and said that her decision did not reflect the incident.

She said there could be a number of reasons for the crash which was still being investigated.

A report by the traffic commissioner said that in March a number of Carmel coach drivers told inspectors about "many different defects" on its vehicles.

On 24 April two Carmel schools buses were stopped after a check by inspectors.

From the  BBC (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-27763192). (Note the information leading to the decision was gathered before the crash)

VOSA had already confirmed that no defects were found by them with the vehicle involved in the Looe crash. The accident investigators also confirmed no defects found by them neither on that vehicle.

Can we have a source for this information? And do you mean DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) rather than VOSA (Vehicle and Operator Services Agency)? VOSA ceased to be on 31st March 2014, which was prior to the Looe incident.

Carmel Coaches ^ Statement 23rd May 2014
In light of the tragic accident that one of our vehicles was involved in on 13th May near Looe, Cornwall we wish to extend our sympathies and condolences to all those affected by the events on the day.
We have been fully co-operating with the authorities in regards to the investigation and have recently been informed that following a thorough vehicle examination by DVSA (VOSA) and TRL Accident Investigators, findings concluded that no contributory defects were found on the vehicle that could have been causative to the accident.
Safety is and always has been a priority and we hope this news reassures as to the high standard we operate to.
We will continue to work with the various authorities until the outcome of this tragic accident is concluded.
Carmel Coaches Ltd.

They've only started a local bus service between Portishead and Clevedon on 2 June and they took over the interests of the defunct North Somerset Coaches.

The coach firm based in Exeter whose bus was involved in a double fatal crash near Looe is to be stripped of its operating licence after an investigation by the Traffic Commissioner.

Carmel Coaches bus was involved in a crash in Looe last month in which two pensioners died and the commissioner has now revealed investigations show repeated safety problems with Carmel's fleet - including defects with brakes, emergency exits and glass-breaking hammers.

The Traffic Commissioner Sarah Bell had conducted an investigation into the Devon coach firm prior to the incident.

Commissioner Miss Bell said she had put the accident out of her mind before concluding the investigation


She said: "I am aware that shortly after the Public Inquiry concluded one of this Operator^s coaches was involved in a fatal accident. I send my condolences to the bereaved. I extend my heartfelt sympathy to all who have been impacted by this tragedy.

"At the same time I make it clear that I have put that event from my mind for the purposes of this written decision.

"The incident will be the subject of a rigorous investigation by the police and various agencies, which will take some time to complete. There are numerous reasons why incidents happen and there can be ^no-fault^ incidents.

"I cannot pre-judge the outcome of those enquiries and this decision should not be read so as to reflect any conclusion regarding the incident."

The commissioner today said Carmel Coaches Limited "no longer satisfies the requirements ... to be of good repute and professionally competent.

"Operator Licence PH1098535 is revoked from 23:59 hours on Thursday 31 July 2014."

They added: "Pursuant to Section 28 Transport Act 1985 Carmel Coaches Limited, Anthony Grove Hazell and Michael James Hazell are disqualified from holding or obtaining an operator^s licence or being involved in the transport operations of an entity that holds or obtains such a licence for a period of 18 months from the date of this decision."

A report from the commissioner says Carmel's Transport Manager, Anthony Grove Hazell "no longer satisfies the requirements ... to be of good repute and professionally competent."

Anthony Grove Hazell is disqualified for a period of 18 months from acting as a Transport Manager for this Licence or any other Licence.

Michael James Hazell, trading as Hirethisbus.com, no longer satisfies the requirements to be of good repute and professionally competent and his Operator Licence is revoked with immediate effect.

On February 16, 2013 Michael Hazell applied to increase the authorisation on his sole trader licence from three vehicles to 12 vehicles.

The substantial size of increase attracted a maintenance investigation by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (^DVSA^).

The investigation took place on April 20, 2013. The report was marked ^unsatisfactory^. One of the findings included the possibility of the lending of discs between Hirethisbus.com and Carmel Coaches Limited.

The current directors of Carmel Coaches Limited are Anthony Hazell (known as Tony Hazell) and his two children Michael Hazell and Carolyn Alderton.

Carmel Coaches Limited was the subject of a maintenance investigation in January 2012.

The commissioner issued a formal warning letter to the company and the two nominated transport managers (Michael & Tony Hazell) because undertakings for drivers to promptly report vehicle defects and for teh company to keep a record of defects were not being complied with.

Carmel Coaches Limited became the subject of a further DVSA investigation on August 14, 2013.

The outcome of that visit was also reported as ^unsatisfactory^. The report from DVSA stated that the undertakings were still not being complied with.

Accordingly, both Operators and their respective Transport Managers were called to Public Inquiry.

Just before the hearing the commissioner was made aware by those representing Carmel Coaches Limited that there was a possibility that one or more of the Directors and/or Carmel Coaches Limited were involved in an unlawful arrangement when taking over part of an operation in the Bristol area previously run by North Somerset Coaches.

At the hearing Carmel Coaches Limited acknowledged that there have been real maintenance concerns since the Licence was issued on 10 May 2011.

Counsel submitted at the outset that there was at all times an intention and willingness to be compliant but accepted that there had been some "woeful failures".

In addition Carmel Coaches Limited attracted 3 traffic compliance prohibitions for breaches of the tachograph rules.

It was accepted that the new Bristol operation is not compliant with the licensing regime but steps have been taken to regularise the position.

Michael Hazell acknowledged at the hearing that having taken legal advice, the arrangement between the two Operators in relation to the use of Hirethisbus.com discs by Carmel Coaches Limited had been unlawful.

At the maintenance investigation carried out in relation to Carmel Coaches Limited on 14 August 2013 a number of unsatisfactory matters were found, namely that there was no notified service interval on file; the walk-round check sheets were scattered and incomplete with action not recorded, mileages missing, records missing and repeat defects reported.

Further, the Operator had received 10 Prohibitions since the last investigation in January 2012 including three Prohibitions that were issued as part of the August 2013 fleet inspection.

The prohibitions indicated failures across the maintenance system, namely the quality of the fitters work and the effectiveness of the driver daily walk round checks.

A Vehicle Examiner carried out a review of the encounters with Carmel and confirmed that the Operator has been encountered 15 times and issued with 6 Immediate Prohibitions and 2 Delayed Prohibitions.

Vehicle FJO4ESG had its driver defect record book examined which showed that of three defects, an ABS (brake system) defect had been reported eight times, a jammed emergency exit had been reported twice and atyre defect was in the defect report for that day.

A prohibition was issued as recently as 5 March 2014 to vehicle YN05VRW due to defects to two obligatory seatbelts and the emergency break glass hammer missing.

The vehicle examiner said: "The figures show that even after two investigations into the condition of the fleet the mechanical condition of the vehicles being run by the Operator has worsened. It shows that there must be a reason for the fall in standards that only the Operator can answer."

The Operator^s current maintenance records were checked by the Vehicle Examiner immediately prior to the hearing commencing on 20 March 2014.

The Vehicle Examiner checked the vehicle files for the eight vehicles which had been prohibited since his last report.

The outcome of his review was "at best disappointing."

Of the records he inspected, on 50% of them the inspection intervals had been exceeded and on 3 records the Certificate of Roadworthiness was not signed off.

There were a number of drivers listing many different defects and a number of the items were not recorded as remedied but were safety critical matters.

Having just spoken to the driver of a bus on the route referred to in my earlier post, it seems that Carmel Coaches Bristol is a separate company and unaffected by the decision in Devon.

A separate trading name maybe, with its own O-license, but I can't find a separate company listed with Companies House. Carolyn Alderton holds just one directorship. Carmel Coaches Ltd. The same registered company of which Michael and Anthony Hazell are directors.

It would appear that Carmel Bristol is only a trading name of Carmel Coaches Ltd and not a separate company.

Carmel Coaches firm in Devon 'a shambles', tribunal hears

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Carmel Coaches runs a number of local bus routes including schools services

A judge has described the maintenance systems at Devon coach firm Carmel Coaches as "a shambles".

The comments were made at an appeal hearing against a decision in June to strip the company of its operating licence for "woeful" safety failures.

The Upper Tribunal heard Carmel Coaches' MOT failure rate was double the 18% national average.

Tony Hazell who runs Carmel Coaches admitted the company had expanded too fast but said maintenance had improved.

The hearing on Tuesday was told a brake defect was reported eight times before something was done, while a jammed emergency exit was not fixed when it was first flagged up.

Judge Jacqueline Beech, who chaired the tribunal, asked: "How did we go from a compliant operator to what can be politely described as a shambles?"

One of the firm's vehicles was involved in a coach crash at Looe in Cornwall in May where two people died although no defects were found.

The traffic commissioner who revoked the licence gathered her evidence before the crash and said her decision did not reflect the incident.

Speaking after the hearing, Mr Hazell said: "Two large firms went out of business suddenly in Exeter around that time which caused us a considerable increase in business. It was a bit difficult to keep control at the same time with a tremendous increase and growth in our work."

The company, based in Okehampton and Exeter, said it has learned lessons and put in a new maintenance regime including better training and employing more experts.

A judgement on the appeal could take up to four weeks.

Devon's Carmel Coaches ceases trading after licence loss

A Devon coach firm which was stripped of its operating licence is to cease trading, managers say.

Carmel Coaches said the decision to stop trading on 14 November had been made after losing an appeal aimed at keeping its licence.

The company appealed to the Transport Tribunal after it was stripped of its licence in June because of safety failures and poor record keeping.

The firm said it would to ensure job losses were kept to a minimum.

Carmel Coaches ran bus routes for schools services and private hire from depots in Northlew and Exeter.

Sarah Bell, traffic commissioner for the West of England, revoked its licence and those of two of its directors over "woeful failures" and safety concerns.

Issues included serious defects not being fixed and poor record keeping of safety issues over a number of years, she said.

The appeal heard the firm's MoT failure rate was double the 18% national average and one brake defect was reported eight times before something was done.

At that hearing, company director Tony Hazell admitted the firm had expanded too fast but said maintenance had improved.

Speaking of the company closing, Mr Hazell said arrangements "are being made for all future contracts and bookings to be honoured".

He added: "We are working hard to ensure staff find continued employment and job losses will be kept to a minimum."

A coach driver who was on his phone when he crashed has been found guilty of causing the death of two Age Concern day trippers and injuring several others.

Martin Chun, 60, from Whitestone, near Exeter, was today, Monday, found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving and sentenced to a total of five years in prison.


Chun was taking a group of 50 on a day out but was "not concentrating" when he lost control on a bend on a steep hill, a jury heard.

He crashed on a steep hill on the A387 at Morval just outside Looe on May 13, 2014.