Bacon factory workers in crash on icy road (From Gazette & Herald)

Bacon factory workers in crash on icy road

A COACH driver died and eight passengers were injured yesterday when two coaches crashed on a treacherously icy road in East Yorkshire.

The horrific accident, involving foreign nationals being taken to work at Malton Bacon Factory, was one of several across the region as the arctic blast turned many ungritted roads into ice rinks.

As winter tightened its grip on the district, a severe weather warning was issued this morning (Wednesday). Although all available gritters and ploughs had been working through the night, especially on the major roads, a number of schools were closed for the day and meetings were being cancelled.

Locally heavy snow showers were expected to spread from the northwest this morning with temperatures remaining below zero. Motorists were warned that untreated surfaces will be very icy, dangerous driving conditions should be expected and drivers will need to take extreme care.

The coach crash happened on the B1248 near Driffield, in conditions described by firefighters as "truly treacherous".

The driver of one coach died at the scene, after the other driver had attempted to give him first aid despite his own injuries.

Some of the passengers, many of them Czech and Portuguese, had to be cut free from the wreckage by firefighters. Eight casualties were taken to Hull Royal Infirmary for treatment to minor leg and head injuries.

A Humberside fire service spokesman said the tragedy struck just before 5am, when one of the coaches was believed to have lost control, hit a tree and then skewed across the icy road. The driver of the following coach attempted to take evasive action and came off the road.

Humberside Fire Service station officer Nick Granger said four crews were greeted by a terrible scene when they arrived at the accident, which happened on an incline between Wetwang and Tibthorpe.

He said: "When we arrived, it was pitch black, there were blizzard conditions and the road conditions were absolutely dire.

"Some casualties were walking wounded, some were in a state of shock and others were more seriously injured. There were a large number of people milling around."

Mr Granger added that language difficulties initially hampered the rescue operation as paramedics decided who needed urgent medical help.

"The bulk of passengers suffered from shock, a lot of people were in the cold for a long time before a fleet of ambulances took them to hospital."

The two coaches involved in the accident were owned by Jim Bell Travel and East Yorkshire Motor Services (EYMS), both from Hull.

Peter Shipp, chairman of EYMS, said both coaches were taking workers from the Hull area to Malton Bacon Factory. He said the driver of his vehicle, which was carrying around 40 people, suffered a suspected broken foot but still attempted to give first aid to the other driver. He said another coach was sent out to bring uninjured passengers back home. An East Riding of Yorkshire Council spokeswoman said on Tuesday that the road had been salted Monday evening, but that rain and sleet showers in the early hours of Tuesday had washed much of the salt away. Temperatures had later fallen to below freezing. Salting had been carried out again Tuesday morning, she added.

Directors of the Jim Bell Travel coach said they wished to offer their "sincere heartfelt condolences" to the family of the driver.

Updated: 11:05 Wednesday, January 28, 2004