Inquiry under way as passengers recount 'miracle' escape from A34 bus crash

About 40 passengers were on a rail replacement bus on the A34, just south of Marcham, at about 12.30am yesterday, when it was forced to pull over.

Minutes later a DHL lorry crashed into the rear of the coach, which had its hazard lights on, pushing it down an embankment.

Some passengers had just got off the vehicle when the collision happened. But those who stayed on board were flung from their seats and five needed hospital treatment.

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The southbound A34 was closed by police for more than 12 hours for recovery work, causing major delays and queues as far as Islip.

Roads around Oxford and the city ground to halt as a result, while drivers followed diversions through Wantage and Milton Heights.

Didcot resident Jack Hayle was outside the bus when the crash happened, and said the low number of injured was “a miracle”.

• Jack Hayle, was standing beside the broken-down coach on the A34 when the lorry collided with it, sending him tumbling down the embankment

The 22-year-old said: “The only thing working was the hazard lights and it was pitch black. The next thing I knew, there were headlights and a lorry coming towards us – too close and too fast to avoid us – and it rammed the bus.

“The force knocked me down to the embankment and the bus was pushed into the ditch and on to its side. The lorry was wrapped around it.

“For the next few minutes it was chaos. There was debris everywhere and everyone had their phones out, calling loved ones or the emergency services.

“Considering the type of crash it was, the fact that so few people were injured is really a miracle.”

The coach had replaced the First Great Western 00:05 Oxford to Didcot service, with many returning home from a Taking Back Sunday gig at the O2 Academy in Cowley Road.

• Passengers by the nearly overturned coach after the accident

It is believed a power failure meant the vehicle broke down, leaving it stationary on a bend where there was no hard shoulder.

Another passenger, 21-year-old Adam Graves said: “When we first started moving we thought the bus was going again but we suddenly realised it was moving onto its side.”

Some people quickly scrambled out of the coach and began to help others escape. The lorry driver was believed to be unharmed and also provided assistance.

Mr Graves continued: “Most of us were not wearing a seatbelt and everyone got thrown around.

“A guy at the back had his legs trapped and people were ripping out seats trying to free him. A lot of us clambered through the back where the windows were all smashed.”

• Workers prepare to lift the wrecked coach from the scene

Model Rebecca Crow, 22, was travelling home to London. She said: “I was two rows from the back when the impact hit. The bus was thrown on its side and the window next to me shattered me and cut my face.

“I had just got back on to the bus after a cigarette break. 20 seconds earlier I was stood up at the front and it would have been so much worse, I was lucky.”

The model said: “I was taken to Royal Berkshire hospital where I was assessed and discharged at 9am just with a few facial injuries which isn’t ideal with my job.”

Last night South Central Ambulance Service said one person was in a serious condition. It is understood he has leg injuries.

Two others had serious injuries and another two had minor injuries.

Police arrived at the crash scene within 10 minutes of a 999 call, Mr Hayle said, and he and others not injured were taken to Abingdon Police Station.

Insp Colin Clark, of Thames Valley Police, said officers were looking into the cause of the crash.

He said: “At the moment it is said to be a power failure that left the coach stationary. We declared it a major incident because of the potential number of casualties. It was also significant because of the disruption it caused.”

The time taken to recover the crashed vehicles, he added, was due to the complexity of recovering them both from the embankment.

Police reopened one lane on the southbound carriageway by about 1.10pm and the road was fully reopened at about 3.30pm.

• Traffic queuing on Hanney Road towards Steventon, as drivers seek alternative routes

A spokesman for First Great Western, which chartered the rail replacement bus, said: “Our thoughts are with those on board at the time and we are keen to offer them and their families any support we can give.

“Initial reports suggest the driver followed correct safety procedures, however we are offering the police any assistance we can.”

DHL, which owns the lorry involved in the collision, said: “We are cooperating fully with the police in their enquiries.

“While these are under way we are unable to comment further except to say the safety of the public and our drivers remains paramount.”

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