Coach crash drive still not quizzed

Sep 5 2007

POLICE today revealed the Midland driver arrested for drink driving after an horrific coach crash will not be quizzed until he has recovered from his injuries.

Six people were left seriously injured and dozens wounded after the coach, which had been travelling from Birmingham's Digbeth Coach Station, overturned near a motorway service station.

Detectives at Thames Valley Police today confirmed the driver of the National Express coach was a 34-year-old man from West Bromwich, but refused to name him.

"The coach driver was arrested on suspicion of drink and dangerous driving and is still being treated for arm and chest injuries,' said a force spokesman. "Police will not interview him about the incident until he is well enough."

The driver was one of 12 people taken to Northampton General Hospital following the crash.

He and three other patients - a 60-year-old man from France who has cuts to his head, a 45-year-old woman from New Shrewsbury who has a dislocated elbow and shoulder and facial injuries, and a 28-year-old man from Coventry who has a cracked knee - are still being treated at the hospital.

The other eight have been discharged.

Two patients remain at Milton Keynes General Hospital - an Australian woman and Polish man.

The two patients being treated at the JR2 in Oxford are a 39-year-old woman from Worcester, who has a head injury, and a 61-year-old man from Kenilworth, Warwickshire, who is suffering from arm, pelvic and facial injuries.