Four people have been killed and at least another four injured after a tipper truck (circled) smashed into vehicles and pedestrians on a hill in Bath
Four
people have been killed and several injured after a tipper truck
smashed into vehicles and pedestrians on a hill in Bath during the
school run.
The
lorry careered into several cars and at least two pedestrians as it
hurtled past a school on Lansdown Lane, on the outskirts of Bath, just
after 4pm this afternoon, police said.
Four
people died at the scene and several have been taken to hospital,
including one taken by air ambulance who is in a critical condition.
There are fears schoolchildren, parents and teachers may have been hurt or even killed in the horrific pile-up.
The lorry (pictured on its side) struck several cars and at least two pedestrians as it travelled down Lansdown Lane just after 4pm this afternoon
Air ambulance crews land at a school near the crash site shortly after the crash this afternoon
Of the four killed, one was a pedestrian while three were in vehicles.
Avon and Somerset Police said early witness accounts 'suggest that the driver was trying to avert an accident' and witnesses said the driver was beeping his horn moments before the crash.
The driver is not among those killed and is understood to have been taken to hospital, police said.
One of the injured was taken to Southmead Hospital in Bristol by air ambulance and is in a critical condition.
Three others, two men and a woman of which one is thought to be the truck driver, were taken by land ambulance to the Royal United Hospital in Bath with minor injuries. One of the men has been discharged.
Weston All Saints Primary School, which is just yards from the crash site, will be closed tomorrow and is treating the 'walking wounded'.
The school did not say whether any pupils, parents or staff were involved in the crash.
Avon and Somerset Police said early witness accounts 'suggest that the driver was trying to avert an accident'
Four people died at the scene and at least four others have been taken to hospital, including one taken by air ambulance who is in a critical condition
Weston All Saints Primary School, which is situated close to the scene of the incident, will be closed tomorrow and is treating the 'walking wounded'
The driver of the lorry frantically beeped his horn as he careered out of control down Lansdown Lane, witnesses said.
Parents speculated the brakes on the lorry failed and others said school children were thought to be among those injured or killed.
One woman, who ran outside when she heard the crash said: 'It woke me up and it was the kind of sound you don't hear everyday.
'It was a loud rumble and then all of a sudden all you could hear was a lorry started beeping constantly and then there was a loud bang and the beeping stopped.
'I think he was trying to warn people he couldn't stop.'
The 21-year-old woman added: 'I asked a woman who was there what happened and she said there was a truck and people and it was a mess.
'There was someone lying in the road with a blanket over them. I've never seen anything like that before.
A mother-of-two, who lives 100 yards from the accident spot, said: 'My friend from up the road was first on the scene and she went straight to get someone from the school when she saw it.
'The police came to see us and they said it was quite hard to find witnesses. Maybe the brakes went. The sound that he was making before makes it sound like that.
'You just thank god it's not one of your children. There are however many families out there suffering tonight. It's so sad.'
The runaway truck passed the gates of Weston All Saints Primary School as children spilled out at the end of the day.
Chief Supt Peters, of Avon and Somerset Police, said: 'We are working very hard at the scene this tragic evening.
'From early witness statements it sounds like the driver was trying to avert an accident but unfortunately four people have now died and several are seriously injured.
'The truck caused damage to the walls of residences where the driver has tried to stop.
'At this stage we cannot say much about the victims but we are doing all we can to identify them as soon as possible.
'I cannot confirm the condition of the driver of the truck as he is currently being treated by medical staff.
'We have a collision scene investigation team trying to assess the cause of the accident and are working on the case.
'As you can imagine the picture is one of carnage and we're trying to create a clearer image of what happened, this will develop as we find out more.'
Chris Lucas, a Liberal Democrat campaigner, took a picture of two air ambulance helicopters landing at the school.
He said: 'My children were coming home and as I opened the front door my neighbour said 'Oh my God there has been a crash, I'm going to call the emergency services'. We didn't know at that point how bad it was.
'I didn't see the accident itself, I saw two helicopters landing in the field but there were several buzzing around.
'One thing that is really is concerning is that road is on the school pick-up run. Weston All Saints Primary School is right next to it.
'All fatalities are awful, but I am praying there are no children involved. It is a very tight community here and one of my children goes to that school. My thoughts go out to everyone involved.'
The lorry struck several cars and at least two pedestrians as it travelled down Lansdown Lane, in Upper Weston on the outskirts of Bath
A South Western Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: 'Four patients have been taken to hospital following the crash. One was taken by air ambulance to Southmead Hospital in Bristol.
'Three others were taken by ambulance to the Royal United Hospital in Bath.
'There were two air ambulances at the scene, five ambulances, three paramedics in rapid response vehicles and a BASICS doctor.'
A spokesman for Bath and North East Somerset Council said: 'Due to the tragic accident on Lansdown Lane this evening, the police have asked that Weston All Saints Primary be closed tomorrow.
'For further updates on opening the information will be available at the schools closure page.'
Bath MP Don Foster said: 'The community is in shock, both for the families of those killed and also those who have been injured.
'We are still waiting to get more details as to what the cause was. It is obviously devastating, tragic and awful, but until we know more we cannot speculate.
'It is a road where we have put speed limits in and flashing lights because it is quite a steep hill coming down. There have been attempts by the council over the years to improve safety on the road.'
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