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Author Topic: Bus hit by steam engine - East Mersea, Essex, 23 September 2015  (Read 6408 times)
Chris from Nailsea
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« on: September 26, 2015, 01:46:43 »

From the BBC» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Quote
East Mersea bus and lorry crash injures 23


The lorry carrying the steam engine is thought to have started its journey in Suffolk

Twenty-three people were hurt, seven seriously, when a bus crashed with a lorry carrying a steam engine.

The crash happened on East Road, East Mersea, Essex, just before 09:50 BST.

The bus driver, a 44-year-old man from Colchester, was freed by firefighters and airlifted to Royal London Hospital with life-threatening injuries. Six passengers were seriously injured.

A man, 51, from Great Yarmouth, was held on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

The road is likely to remain closed for most of the day, Essex Police said.


Twenty-three people were hurt in the crash

Police said there were 35 people, including the driver, on the number 67 bus when it crashed. Of these, 16 had minor injuries or were walking wounded. The six passengers with serious injuries were taken to the Colchester General or Broomfield Hospital.

Officers believe the lorry had travelled from Lowestoft, Suffolk, on Wednesday morning and have appealed for information.
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William Huskisson MP (Member of Parliament) was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830.  Many more have died in the same way since then.  Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.

"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner."  Discuss.
ChrisB
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« Reply #1 on: September 26, 2015, 09:29:11 »

Have they extended the GW (Great Western) territory into Essex now? :-)
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #2 on: September 26, 2015, 10:52:03 »

No, but we often discuss bus travel-related incidents from outside our area: I thought this was an unusual story, involving a FirstGroup bus.  Lips sealed
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William Huskisson MP (Member of Parliament) was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830.  Many more have died in the same way since then.  Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.

"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner."  Discuss.
ChrisB
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« Reply #3 on: September 26, 2015, 13:14:10 »

I was referring to the board you posted this in :-)
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grahame
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« Reply #4 on: September 26, 2015, 13:33:02 »

If it's transport other than trains ... it goes to "buses and other ways to travel"

If it's outside our area it goes to "the wider picture".

Pedantically reading the pinned posts, "the wider picture" takes precedent, but there's a caveat on "buses" which way it's not an absolute rule - there's no "must be posted in the wider picture".   In this case, I would on balance suggest that the post is of interest as a learning point in our area / a countrywide lesson to be careful as you low-load traction engines around, and had I come across the article I would probably (a) have posted and (b) done so under buses.   "Is it of interest to me as a bus user in the South West?" ... "Yes". 

Where perhaps something would go in the wider picture would be one of the too-familiar bus withdrawals such as
Quote
97 Castle Carrock-Brampton-Hethersgill-Crosby-on-Eden-Carlisle, all journeys withdrawn;
from News and Star which forms a lesson in our part of the country only in terms of being yet another example of a pulled bus, rather than a significant learning point.

But this is a pedantic discussion - either place is fine for the traction engine, and perhaps significantly nobody posted about the 97 in Cumbria on either
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #5 on: June 28, 2016, 23:37:04 »

An update, from the BBC» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

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East Mersea steam engine-bus crash lorry driver charged


The bus driver and 22 other people were hurt in the crash in East Mersea, Essex, on 23 September last year

A lorry driver has been charged over a crash involving a bus and a low-loader carrying a steam engine which injured 23 people.

The collision happened in East Mersea, Essex, in September last year.

Bus driver Michael Birch, had to be cut free from his cabin and later said he thought he "would die".

Essex Police said Philip Last, 52, of Northgate Street, Great Yarmouth, had been charged with six counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

He is due to appear at Colchester Magistrates' Court next month.


Bus driver Michael Birch needed seven operations following the crash


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William Huskisson MP (Member of Parliament) was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830.  Many more have died in the same way since then.  Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.

"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner."  Discuss.
Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #6 on: April 21, 2017, 17:57:42 »

An update, from the BBC» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Quote
East Mersea steam engine crash: Lorry driver jailed for 18 months

A lorry driver has been jailed for 18 months for causing a crash involving a bus and a low-loader carrying a steam engine.

Philip Last, 53, of Great Yarmouth, admitted six counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving in the collision in East Mersea, Essex, in September 2015.

In total, 23 people were hurt in the crash.

At Ipswich Crown Court, Last was also banned from driving for 21 months.

Bus driver Michael Birch had to be cut free from his cabin following the crash.  He said he thought he "would die" and has been unable to drive since.

The court was told parts of the engine was held in place by just one strap, which snapped in the collision.

Last said he was "extremely horrified" by what happened and was "devastated by the unintended consequences".  In a statement, he said he "heard a crunch" and came to a "dead halt" when he and the bus were due to pass each other on a slight bend in the 40mph road.

Judge David Goodin said the accident had "grave consequences".  He added: "You are an experienced driver of heavy vehicles. You had the advantage of specific training of how to secure this six tonnes of metal to ensure no movement. You wouldn't have wished this for a moment, but you caused it."


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William Huskisson MP (Member of Parliament) was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830.  Many more have died in the same way since then.  Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.

"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner."  Discuss.
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