17 January 2023 , 08:52
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A double-decker bus with 71 people on board has overturned on a busy road as 26 people were taken to hospital after a miracle escape following a five-hour rescue.
A major incident was declared before being downgraded at midday after the vehicle carrying staff of nuclear power plant Hinkley Point flipped early this morning, leaving many workers injured.
In an update tonight, Avon and Somerset Police said no one has died, with 54 patients triaged at the scene.
Police and the air ambulance attended the A39 Quantock Road, near Bridgwater, Somerset, this morning after the force received more than 100 reports inside a few hours as a result of 'treacherous conditions'.
Authorities have now confirmed there are no fatalities - but there are 26 'walking wounded' and they have been taken to hospital.
Gales, snow and rain to batter country today with 80mph wind gusts
A "significant number" of police, fire and ambulance crews are at the scene.
Around 80 Hinkley Point workers were on board
A video shows the aftermath of the crash (UkNewsinPictures)The emergency services were attempting to release those still trapped on the bus four hours after the 6am collision.
The bus is understood to have swerved to avoid a motorbike.
Somerset Passenger Solutions, which operates the bus service, have launched an investigation into the "root cause of the accident".
Inspector Rebecca Wells-Cole said: “Emergency services have been on the scene since receiving the first 999 call and we can confirm that have been no fatalities at this time.
“Fifty-four patients were triaged at the scene and it’s too soon to confirm if any of these patients have life-threatening injuries.“However, 26 patients are being treated as walking wounded.
Nuclear power plant workers were on board the bus when it "rolled over" and multiple injuries have been reported“A number of those treated at the scene had been taken to Musgrove Park Hospital, Bridgewater Minor Injury Unit and Southmead Hospital.
"It may take us some time to recover the bus and to clear the debris from the road.“
Temperatures have plunged to below freezing across Britain, creating travel chaos as the Met Office issued yellow warnings for snow and ice across southern England.
Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service confirmed the bus "rolled over".
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A Hinkley Point C spokesperson said: "A bus carrying members of the Hinkley Point C workforce has been involved in a traffic incident on the A39 in Bridgwater.
"Emergency services are on the scene and travel to and from the site has been suspended."
Avon and Somerset Police said in a statement: "We were called at around 6am today to the A39 Quantock Road following a road-related incident involving a double-decker bus and a motorcyclist.
"Closure are in place at the junction of Sandford Hill and Quantock Road.
Driving conditions have become treacherous due to the ice (Andy Commins / Daily Mirror)"A significant number of police, fire and ambulance units are on the scene and a major incident has been declared."
The UK Health Security Agency issued a level three cold alert on Monday in response to 'severe winter weather' as the mercury plunged to -11 across the UK.
A witness told the Enquirer: “The bus had to have swerved to avoid a motorbike. The air ambulance is on site and medics have set up a triage scene at the site.”
Dave Gliddon, Vice Chairman of Wembdon Parish Council told Metro.co.uk: "We understand the bus crashed near the Sandford Roundabout.
|There was water running off the field nearby because of the bad weather and whether that was a factor we don’t know."
Emergency services were quickly on the scene following the early morning crash (UkNewsinPictures)
People were seen on top of the over-turned bus on the A39 (UkNewsinPictures)A section of the A30 in Devon has also been blocked up by snow.
A road in Kent was also blocked by a truck after the driver lost control on the ice became stuck.
Supt Mark Runacres said: "We have closed the road whilst we work with emergency services at the scene."
Somerset Police are advising the public to "only travel if essential" after 53 crashes were reported on Monday evening alone.
The "treacherous conditions" overnight have caused carnage on roads across the county.
Emergency services have respond to an overturned vehicle near the village of Llangynidr in the Brecon Beacons.
A bus also crashed in Blackpool outside the Savoy Hotel on Queens Promenade due to the icy weather.