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British driver killed and dozens of tourists injured as coach careers



One Briton was killed and up to 18 others injured when a coach exploded in a fireball after crashing in the French Alps yesterday.

More than 50 UK nationals were on their way home from resorts around Alpe d’Huez when the coach veered off the road after suspected brake failure.

It smashed into rocks shortly after 2pm before bursting into flames seconds later as passengers leapt to escape. The British driver was killed in the crash.




The identity of the driver has not been released but all travelling on the coach are believed to have been British


The coach careered off a steep mountain road which has 21 hairpin bends - leading to fears that the vehicle's brakes may have failed






The accident happened in the Alpe d'Huez ski resort - three passengers are understood to be in a serious condition, while 17 suffered minor injuries







Burnt out: The 51 passengers are understood to be travelling back to the UK after working a ski season for Brighton-based company Skibound which organises trips for schools


Marjolijn Courbet, 38, one of the first eyewitnesses at the scene, said last night: ‘It was horrible. There were lots of shocked and dazed young people leaping out of the blazing coach.

‘Some of them had suffered really bad burns to their bodies. People were crying and screaming in pain.’




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The UK travel organisation Abta said the Britons were staff on their way home from working for the Brighton-based ski company Skibound at Alpe d’Huez and other resorts east of Grenoble.



According to local reports, the panicked bus driver shouted to his passengers that there was a problem just moments before the crash



Failed: A firefighter works on the wreckage of the coach which was carrying two drivers and 51 passengers







Help: A helicopter was seen at the site airlifting passengers to hospital and several passengers were taken for treatment by road





Details of those involved in the crash have not yet been released





People were believed to have been trapped inside the vehicle once it caught fire





A number of passengers escaped from the burning wreckage by jumping out of smashed windows, and at least four of the injured were in a serious condition, according to French authorities.

Two helicopters were scrambled to the scene and airlifted the more seriously injured to hospital in Grenoble, while firemen battled to put out the flames.

A local police spokesman said: ‘There was apparently a problem with the coach’s brakes. The driver seems to have lost control on a steep bend in the road and his vehicle crashed into rocks.’




He added it was a miracle so many had survived the crash, thought to have happened towards the bottom of a mountain.

The coach was gutted within minutes, and an hour later charred rubble and twisted metal were all that remained. A trailer believed to have been towed by the bus to carry luggage was scorched by the heat, but did not catch fire.

Abta said there were two drivers and 51 passengers on board. Skibound said a team was in place to provide support for those involved.

A spokesman added: ‘The names of any injured parties will not be released until all next of kin have been notified.’



Holiday attraction: Alpe d'Huez is a ski resort particularly popular with Britons

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