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2007 National Express coach accidents

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 78.32.143.113 (talk) at 14:54, 27 November 2009 (→3 January 2007 incident{{anchor|Jan}}: double-deck in infobox). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

The 2007 National Express coach crash can refer to one of at least two motorway road traffic incidents (RTIs) involving National Express Coaches in the United Kingdom in 2007. In both instances, the cause of the coach crashes were wholly attributed to the fault of the driver.

The first incident of 2007 happened on 3 January, at approximately a 23:45 (GMT)[1][2] on a slip road connecting the M25 motorway and the M4 motorway west of London near Heathrow Airport, when a National Express coach travelling from London to Aberdeen overturned.[2] Two people died of fatal wounds,[2] and dozens were injured in the accident. A third passenger died in hospital six months later as a result of "horrific injuries" sustained in the crash.[3] Dispite this tragic incident, coach travel in the UK is still the safest form of passenger transport, as confirmed by the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT).[4]

The second National Express incident of 2007 happened on 3 September 2007, at approximately 16:00 (BST),[5] on a slip road from the southbound M1 motorway leading to Newport Pagnell services, when the National Express coach travelling from Birmingham to Stansted Airport clipped a kerb and rolled over.[5]

3 January 2007 incident

2007 National Express coach accidents
Details
Date3 January 2007, 23:45 (GMT)
LocationM4 motorway/M25 motorway, west of London, England
Coordinates51°29′52.13″N 00°29′52.13″W / 51.4978139°N 0.4978139°W / 51.4978139; -0.4978139 (National Express coach accident - 3 January 2007)
OperatorNational Express Coaches
CauseExcess speed
Statistics
BusIntercity double-deck coach
Vehicles1: Neoplan Skyliner N122/3L coach
Deaths3
Injured4 serious

Background

A Neoplan Skyliner N122/3L coach (VIN: WAGPA8ZZ364001057, 2006 model year)[6] was operating on the National Express Coaches route number 592[2][7] and was heading towards Aberdeen.[2] It left London Victoria Coach Station at 22:30 (GMT),[2][7] was carrying 65 passengers,[2] and was due to arrive at Aberdeen Coach Park at 10:30 (GMT) on 4 January 2007.[2][7] The coach was due to stop en route at Heathrow Airport, Carlisle, Hamilton, Glasgow and Dundee;[2] before reaching Aberdeen as its final destination.[2][7] The coach involved in the crash was carrying the UK vehicle registration number "LSK 827".[6][8]

Crash and emergency response

This is a Neoplan Skyliner, similar to that which crashed on the motorway slip road killing three people.

The crash occurred on the motorway slip road of junction 4B connecting the westbound M4 motorway; to junction 15 of the northbound (clockwise) M25 motorway,[2] at approximately the point where the slip road merges with the slip road from the eastbound M4 51°29′52.13″N 00°29′52.13″W / 51.4978139°N 0.4978139°W / 51.4978139; -0.4978139 (National Express coach accident - 3 January 2007). At this point the slip road is on a downhill gradient with a right turn with decreasing radius, necessitating a posted advisory speed limit of 40 miles per hour (64 km/h).[8]

Emergency services are reported to have classed the accident as a category B,[clarification needed] which meant that the first ambulance did not arrive until 14 minutes after the call.[citation needed] A total of five fire appliances, twenty London ambulances, eight doctors and one specialist Fire Service unit attended the accident scene. The injured were treated at six different hospitals. It was initially reported that thirty eight passengers were taken to Hillingdon Hospital,[2] though this was subsequently clarified as 36.[7][9] Sixteen were taken to Charing Cross Hospital,[2] seven to West Middlesex Hospital in Isleworth,[2] four to St. Peter's Hospital in Chertsey,[1][2] one child was taken to St. Mary's Hospital in Paddington,[2] and another child to Wexham Park Hospital in Slough.[2]

Two people were killed in the crash,[7] a 30 year old male Chinese national, Yi Di Lin,[10] and the other being a woman named Christina Munro Toner, 76, of Monifieth, Dundee, Scotland.[7][10][11] Another passenger, John Carruthers, 78, of Chertsey, Surrey, died on 1 July 2007 from injuries sustained in the crash.[3][10] Several others of the 67 persons onboard the coach were seriously injured; some have had limbs amputated because of their injuries.

Investigation

The Neoplan Skyliner coach[12] was removed from the motorway for subsequent investigation.[9] Thames Valley Police sealed off the area where the accident happened for a period. The Police later confirmed that no other vehicles were involved in the accident.[9][13]

The 40 year old coach driver was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving,[7][9][13] but was released on Police bail.[14] The driver was later named by the Police as Philip Rooney, of Lanarkshire, Scotland.[10] Following Police investigations Rooney was charged with three counts of causing death by dangerous driving.[10] He was to answer charges before Reading Magistrates' Court on 31 July 2007.[10]

Aftermath

National Express Coaches had taken its remaining 11 Neoplan double-deck Skyliners off the road for safety checks.[7][9][12][14] These are all operated on behalf of National Express by Trathens Travel Services of Plymouth,[6][8][15] which is a subsidiary of Park's of Hamilton. They were relatively new at the time of the crash,[8] being delivered in October 2006. The vast majority of the National Express fleet comprises single-deck coaches, and its services are not likely to be affected by the recall. It was originally reported that the coaches would be stopped where they were[7] (i.e. motorway hard shoulder), but this was corrected to that they would be stopped at their destination.[9][14]

NEOPLAN Bus GmbH announced on 5 January that all the coaches had passed their safety checks,[12] with no safety problems or defects being found,[8][12][15] and were ready to return to service "as and when the operator whishes".[12]

The driver of the coach, Philip Rooney, from Lanarkshire, initially denied all three charges of causing death by dangerous driving at a hearing at Reading Magistrates' Court.[16] Rooney was bailed to appear at Oxford Crown Court on 8 September 2008 for a commital hearing for a trial on 27 October 2008.[16] He subsequently changed his plea and admitted guilty to all three counts of causing death by dangerous driving at a hearing at the Old Bailey.[15][17] Rooney was again bailed, this time by Mr Justice Gross at the Old Bailey, until sentencing on 24 November.[17] On 26 November 2008 at Oxford Crown Court, Judge Mr Justice Gross jailed Rooney for five years.[18]

Actions of the driver

Oxford Crown Court was told that the coach driver, Rooney, was speaking to the passengers onboard the coach via its public address system - making a "safety announcement",[8][18] whilst speeding round a bend.[18] One witness described Rooney's control of the coach as: he drove like a man "possessed".[18] It was confirmed on the Court record that as a direct result of Rooneys actions, two persons died in the crash, and a further person died on 1 July 2007.[18] Furthermore, four passengers had to have limbs amputated,[18] and many more needed to be cut from the wreckage by fire fighters using specialist cutting equipment.[18] The Court also heard that Rooney had previous speeding convictions,[18] and that Rooney had repeatedly exceeded speed limits on this fateful journey, as proven by tachograph evidence.[18] Rooney's manner of driving, partiularly his heavy braking, caused luggage to fall from the overhead baggage racks.[18]

Prosecuting barister, Mr Richard Latham, QC, told the Court that passengers had reported that the coach was being "driven significantly faster, as if the driver was seeking to make up for lost time".[18] Prior to the coach leaving Victoria coach station, it had been delayed by half an hour; due to the luggage of one family not being able to fit on the coach, and that Rooney had to call for a taxi to transport the luggage.[18] Before the crash, after leaving Heathrow airport, one passenger described Rooneys actions as: "After Heathrow the driver drove like he was possessed. He kept overtaking everything and going like the clappers".[18] The Court heard that as Rooney approached the motorway slip road sharp bend, he was driving the coach at 55 miles per hour (89 km/h), clearly exceeding the 40 miles per hour (64 km/h) speed limit.[18] The coach first clipped one crash barrier; and Rooney then lost control of the vehicle.[18] The coach then skidded sideways for some distance,[18] before hitting a second crash barrier and finally overturning.[18]

At an earlier Court hearing, it was confirmed that Rooney had five previous convictions for speeding in passenger vehicles.[18] It was also confirmed that Rooney had been disciplined in December 2004 by his employer for "tampering with a speed limiter".[18]

On sentencing Rooney, the Judge, Mr Justice Gross told Rooney and the Court: "No sentence I pass can undo the events of that day and the deaths and injuries that resulted".[18] As well as being jailed for five years, Rooney was also banned from driving for a further three years.[8][18]

3 September 2007 incident

2007 National Express coach accidents
Details
Date3 September 2007, 16:00 (BST)
LocationNewport Pagnell services, M1 motorway, Buckinghamshire, England
OperatorNational Express Coaches
CauseDrink-driving
Statistics
BusIntercity single-decker coach
Vehicles1
Deaths0
Injured33 slight; including 7 serious
Wikinews has related news:
A National Express Coach similar to the one involved in the crash

Background

The single-decker coach, travelling southbound on the M1 motorway, which had recently stopped at Coventry, was the National Express Coach 777 service from Birmingham to London Stansted Airport, via London Luton Airport.[5] There were 33 passengers on board at the time of the accident,[5] of the 33 on board, 30 were injured,[5] six with serious injuries.

Crash

The coach rolled on to its side after it clipped a kerb and then a lamp post and tree at the entry to a motorway slip road by the Newport Pagnell services area on the southbound M1 motorway.[5] It was ultimately confirmed that the coach driver mistook the entry to the service area for a major junction on the M1.

The injured were taken to hospitals in Milton Keynes,[5][19] Northampton[19] and the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.[5][19] One of the injured was transported to hospital by air ambulance.[5][19]

The driver of the National Express coach was arrested by Thames Valley Police in hospital for driving whilst under the influence of alcohol and dangerous driving[5][20] after being cut free from the wreckage.[20] He had earlier been breath tested at the scene of the colision.[21]

Aftermath

National Express decided not to withdraw the fleet of coaches to conduct tests. It was deemed that there were not any faults with the vehicles, leaving the cause of the crash to driver error.

National Express chief executive Richard Bowker defended the safety of their operation.[22] Speaking on BBC Radio 4s Today programme, Bowker stated they (National Express) were "obsessed" with safety.[22] Bowker went on to explain that their drivers must meet "tough standards", and pass random drink-drive tests.[22] To be even considered to drive for National Express, you have to pass very rigorous tests and the recruitment test, particularly around drugs and alcohol, is very tough, Bowker stressed.[22] Bowker continued by explaining that the drink limits for National Express are far stricter than the legal limits,[22] and that the company randomly test, and that means that it is extremely likely that you will be caught at some point.[22] Mr Bowker confirmed that National Express were fully co-operating with the police regarding this crash,[22] explaining This is now a police investigation, and obviously we need to learn the detail of this ourselves as quickly as possible.[22] Bowker insisted that it was extremely rare for National Express to have an accident like this,[22] and he concluded that travelling by coach is far, far safer than travelling by car - it was last week, it will be this week and it will be in the future.[22] However, there was no mention of how National Express allowed this particular driver to get behind the wheel of their coach whilst he was over the mandatory drink-drive limit, let alone National Express's more strict limits.

The coach driver

Two days after the crash, police were still waiting to question the coach driver.[23] The driver had sustained serious injuries, including an injured arm and cracked ribs,[23] and was being treated at Northampton General Hospital.[23] Police officers had to guard the driver in hospital, until he was declared fit enough to answer police questions.[23] The police confirmed that the slip road where the coach crashed needed to be re-surfaced due to damage caused by a diesel spill.[23] The coach driver was later released from hospital on 10 September,[24] and was also released on police bail,[24] to attend Milton Keynes police station on 1 October for further questioning.[24]

On 23 November 2007, police announced they had yet to decide weather to charge the driver.[25] The police explained that due to delays in receiving forensic evidence, the Crown Prosecution Service were not able to make a fully informed decision on weather to bring charges.[25] The 35 year old driver from West Bromwich, who had still not been named, was further bailed until 28 January 2008.[25]

On 28 January 2008, the National Express coach driver, now identified as Leslie Weinberg, 36 from West Bromwich, was officially charged with driving while under the influence of excess alcohol, and a further charge of dangerous driving.[26] He was due to appear on 12 February 2008 at Milton Keynes Magistrates' Court to answer the charges.[26] Weinburg's actions left eight people needing hospital treatment for their injuries.[26] Weinberg was subsequently fired by National Express as a result of the charge.[citation needed]

On 14 April 2008, Leslie Weinberg's actions were finally made public, via full evidence in Court of Law.[27] Appearing before Judge Christopher Tyrer at Aylesbury Crown Court,[27] Weinberg finally pleaded guilty to the two charges: driving whilst under the influence of alcohol, and dangerous driving.[27] The Court was told that Weinberg had a drink drive reading of 145 milligrams (0.0051 oz) of alcohol in 100 millilitres (3.520 imp fl oz; 3.381 US fl oz) of blood - the UK legal limit is 80 milligrams (0.0028 oz) per 100 ml.[27] The court was told that six passengers suffered serious injuries as a direct result of Weinberg's actions; with one man having an arm amputated.[27] The Judge warned Weinburg to expect a jail sentence,[27] and stated: "This is serious. The circumstances are very grave".[27] The Judge continued: "As a result of your intoxication, you completely mistook where you were. You mistook the exit of the motorway and a number of people were seriously injured".[27] The case was adjourned to seek medical reports on Wienburg, to re-appear during the week of 26 May 2008 for sentencing.[27] Judge Christopher Tyrer imposed an Interim Disqualification Order which banned Weinberg from driving, and told him: "This is way past the custody threshold, and you should make arrangements accordingly".[27]

Weinberg was sentenced on 24 June 2008.[28] On re-appearing at Aylesbury Crown Court, it became known that Weinberg had returned from holiday the day before, and chose to stay up alone all night drinking.[28] The court was told the following day, Weinburg then drove a National Express coach on a regular service from Birmingam to Stanstead Airport.[28] Whilst travelling southbound on the M1, Weinberg overtook a lorry on the approach to a motorway junction.[28] He then cut back infront of the lorry, and claimed to have mistaken the service station entry slip road for that of the actual junction exit slip road.[28] As the coach entered the slip road, its tachograph showed that the coach was travelling at 57 miles per hour (92 km/h).[28] It then hit a kerb, and passengers reported the coach 'took off'.[28] It then rolled onto its side, sliding into a lamp post and a tree.[28] It went on the court record that seven passengers suffered serious injuries, including one man who had an arm amputated.[28]

Leslie Weinberg was jailed for ten months,[28] and was fined £500.[28] Furthermore, he was disqualified from driving for four years for the guilty plea of driving with excess alcohol,[28] and had a further concurrent two year disqualification for the guilty plea of dangerous driving.[28]

References

  1. ^ a b "Couple from Skye injured in crash". BBC. BBC News. 4 January 2007. Retrieved 26 November 2009.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Two dead after M-way coach crash". BBC. BBC News. 4 January 2007. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
  3. ^ a b "Coach crash injuries caused death". BBC. BBC News. 20 July 2007. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
  4. ^ "Are the UK's coaches safe enough?". BBC. BBC News. 4 January 2007. Retrieved 26 November 2009.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Coach overturns in motorway crash". BBC. BBC News. 3 September 2007. Retrieved 26 November 2009.
  6. ^ a b c "LSK827 w Neoplan Skyliner N122/3L WAGPA8ZZ364001057". Dave Francis. NationalExpressCoaches.fotopic.net. 31 November 2006. Retrieved 26 November 2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "National Express removes coaches". BBC. BBC News. 4 January 2007. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g "November 2008 edition of Busmopolitan". Essex and District Bus News Page. Busmopolitan.org. November 2008. Retrieved 26 November 2009.
  9. ^ a b c d e f "Coach crash firm withdraws buses". BBC. BBC News. 4 January 2007. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
  10. ^ a b c d e f "Coach driver faces death charges". BBC. BBC News. 23 July 2007. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
  11. ^ "Scot identified as crash victim". BBC. BBC News. 4 January 2007. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
  12. ^ a b c d e "Profile: Neoplan Skyliner". BBC. BBC News. 6 January 2007. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
  13. ^ a b "M-way death coach driver arrested". BBC. BBC News. 4 January 2007. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
  14. ^ a b c "Appeal over second crash victim". BBC. BBC News. 5 January 2007. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
  15. ^ a b c "Coach death driver pleads guilty - No safety problems". BBC. BBC News. 15 October 2008. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
  16. ^ a b "Driver denies coach death charges". BBC. BBC News. 29 January 2008. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
  17. ^ a b "Driver admits coach death charges". BBC. BBC News. 15 October 2008. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "M25 coach deaths driver is jailed". BBC. BBC News. 26 November 2008. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
  19. ^ a b c d "Crash patients at three hospitals". BBC. BBC News. 6 September 2007. Retrieved 26 November 2009.
  20. ^ a b "Bus driver arrested over M1 crash". BBC. BBC News. 3 September 2007. Retrieved 26 November 2009.
  21. ^ "Driver faces questions over crash". BBC. BBC News. 4 September 2007. Retrieved 26 November 2009.
  22. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Coach crash boss in safety claim". BBC. BBC News. 4 September 2007. Retrieved 26 November 2009.
  23. ^ a b c d e "Police wait to quiz crash driver". BBC. BBC News. 5 September 2007. Retrieved 26 November 2009.
  24. ^ a b c "Crash driver is to leave hospital". BBC. BBC News. 10 September 2007. Retrieved 26 November 2009.
  25. ^ a b c "More delays in coach crash probe". BBC. BBC News. 23 November 2007. Retrieved 26 November 2009.
  26. ^ a b c "Driver charged over coach crash". BBC. BBC News. 28 January 2008. Retrieved 26 November 2009.
  27. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "M1 coach crash driver facing jail". BBC. BBC News. 14 April 2008. Retrieved 26 November 2009.
  28. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "M1 coach crash driver is jailed". BBC. BBC News. 24 June 2008. Retrieved 26 November 2009.
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