M40 coach crash driver hailed a hero (From Oxford Mail)

M40 coach crash driver hailed a hero

7:30am Tuesday 31st August 2010 in Editorial Comment By Andrew Ffrench

An Oxford Tube coach

A COACH driver battled bravely to keep control of an Oxford Tube bus after a passenger tried to grab the wheel on the M40.

The double-decker crashed and ended up on its side on the motorway during the early hours yesterday as it travelled from Oxford to London.

Last night the driver revealed how he fought to keep the 1.10am service on the road and evacuated passengers after the crash, despite having an injured shoulder.

The 48-year-old said: “I thought ‘Oh my God – this is it’.

“I was struggling to keep the coach on the road and braking really hard. I saw the coach go up the banking and I could feel it was about to topple over.”

The incident happened at 2am on Monday on the London-bound carriageway, between junction three at Loudwater and junction two at Beaconsfield.

The driver, who lives in Witney and is based in Oxford, suffered minor injuries and one passenger needed hospital treatment.

He said: “My right shoulder went through the side window and I was convinced I was going to get thrown out. I was absolutely petrified.

“The passengers were absolutely brilliant.

“Two people were suspended from their seatbelts. One girl managed to get herself unclipped and I helped rescue her friend by taking her down on one of my shoulders.”

The driver, who wished to remain anonymous, added: “There was no screaming or shouting. I explained to passengers to go through the roof hatch.

“I made sure they got out to a safe place away from the road and I checked the coach. I was amazed everyone walked out of there – I still can’t believe it.

“I don’t take any credit for it. I just reacted to what happened.

“It was the design of the coach and the seatbelts that saved us.”

The driver, who is married with children, added: “I didn’t get home until 6.30am and when I told my wife what happened she was very tearful.”

A 21-year-old man from Oxford was in police custody last night following the incident.

He was arrested after leaving the scene of the crash.

Steven Stewart, a spokesman for Stagecoach, which runs the Oxford Tube, said: “We would like to commend the driver for his brave actions in minimising what could have been a far more serious accident.

“Despite his injuries, the driver followed our procedures and made sure everyone was in a safe location outside the coach.

“We are providing police with on-board CCTV footage to assist their investigation.

“Passengers who were not required to provide detailed statements to the police were taken to their destination by another Oxford Tube service.”

Police spokesman Rebecca Webber said: “Following the crash one man was arrested.

“He had been a passenger on the coach and was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and assault.

“It is believed he may have had some involvement in the cause of the collision.”

A spokesman for South Central Ambulance said: “One person was taken to Wexham Park Hospital in Slough suffering minor injuries.”

Mr Stewart added: “Thankfully, none of the 12 passengers or our driver were seriously injured.

“We understand one passenger was taken to hospital as a precaution for a possible spinal injury, but is expected to be discharged.”

Mr Stewart said the driver, who has worked for the company for more than three years, has 25 years’ experience as a coach driver.