Passengers in coach crash 'lucky to escape'

AIR ambulance crews say it was "extremely fortunate" no one was more seriously injured in a crash involving two coaches taking families on a day out in North Yorkshire.

About 20 people were injured in the accident on the A170 near Pickering which involved a car and the two coaches that were carrying 100 adults and children on a day trip from Newcastle to the Flamingo Land theme park and zoo, near Malton.

Two air ambulances were called to the scene of the crash, which happened at about 11.25am on Saturday amid concerns over the number and scale of injuries.

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The Great North Air Ambulance Service initially scrambled two aircraft, although a helicopter from Cumbria was sent back to base when further details of the injuries were obtained.

However, the second aircraft from Teesside attended the scene, along with a helicopter from the Yorkshire Air Ambulance Service.

An air crew paramedic with the Great North Air Ambulance Service, Colin Clark, said: "It could have been a lot more serious, as there were a lot of passengers involved. It was extremely fortunate that no one was more seriously injured."

Two adults and two children were taken by land ambulances for treatment at the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton and Scarborough General Hospital with minor injuries, and were later allowed.

There were a number of "walking wounded" and several people were checked over by a doctor at the scene.