Coaches withdrawn after motorway crash

Last Modified: 04 Jan 2007
By: Lindsay Taylor

The chief executive of National Express has told Channel 4 News all its double decker coaches have tonight been withdrawn for safety checks.

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No other vehicle was involved when the coach joining the motorway near Heathrow late last night flipped on its side.

The man behind the wheel, a contract driver for National Express, was arrested today on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

One of the passengers who lost their lives has been named this evening as 76 year old Christina Munro Turner.

At least three children remain in a serious condition in hospital.

Overnight, firefighters used cutting equipment to free people trapped in the battered National Express bus. Some victims had to have limbs amputated at the scene.

The coach was setting off from London towards Aberdeen when it overturned at 11.45pm last night on the slip road leading from junction 4B of the M4 east bound to the M25 junction 15 clockwise.