Expert Lawyer Says Authorities Must Act Quickly To Investigate Coach Crash That Left 52 Injured

A leading road traffic expert is urging authorities to quickly investigate the cause of a crash that left nine people in hospital and 43 others injured after a coach and a car collided.

The incident happened on the A11 near Elveden in Suffolk at 13.25 on 13 July and led to the road being shut for over six hours. Suffolk police said it is treating the crash as a major accident.

One person in the car was critically injured and another "seriously" hurt. Police said 48 people, mostly teenagers, were on the coach and five people injured on the coach had been taken to hospital with minor injuries.

The coach was returning to Oaks Park High School in Ilford where pupils and staff were returning home to London following a field trip in Norfolk.

An ambulance spokeswoman said: "Nine patients have been taken to Addenbrooke's, West Suffolk and Norfolk and Norwich hospitals and 43 patients are described as walking wounded."

David Urpeth, a specialist in road traffic accident claims at Irwin Mitchell, said: “This is a serious crash that has left dozens of young people injured and a car driver critically ill in hospital.

“Authorities must now act quickly to investigate what caused the collision and whether steps can be taken to prevent the same thing from happening again in the future.

“Collisions and accidents are all too common and we hope that, like with other crashes, lessons can be learned from this incident which will go some way to improving safety and preventing further problems in the future.”

If you’ve experienced physical or psychological injury due to a road traffic accident involving a bus or coach, you may be able to claim compensation. See our Bus & Coach Accident Claims page for more information.