ianstone
03-31-2010, 04:38 PM
Schoolgirl Dies In Coach Crash On Snowy Road
Latest news update
9:11pm UK, Wednesday March 31, 2010
Adam Arnold and Alison Chung, Sky News Online
A 17-year-old girl on a school trip to Alton Towers has been killed after the coach she was travelling in plunged into a stream during "horrendous" weather conditions.
Natasha Jade Paton, from Cleghorn, near Lanark, was travelling with a party of 33 children and five staff when the bus crashed on the A73 at Wiston, near Biggar, South Lanarkshire.
Her parents have issued a statement saying: "We are devastated at the loss of our beloved daughter.
"Natasha was a typical teenager and very popular with lots of friends and will be greatly missed by all who knew her."
Three youngsters were seriously injured and another eight suffered minor injuries in the accident which happened shortly after 6am.
NHS Lanarkshire said five people remain in hospital in a stable condition.
The children came from Lanark Grammar School in South Lanarkshire.
Police said the cause of the crash was still under investigation, but given the "horrendous" weather conditions, it was clear snow "had a part to play".
http://news.sky.com/sky-news/content/StaticFile/jpg/2010/Mar/Week4/15590184.jpg Natasha was on a trip with schoolmates to Alton Towers
The bus had only been on the road for about 12 miles when the driver lost control and crashed through the bridge wall, plunging 10ft into the river below.
Natasha is thought to have been thrown out of the vehicle as it careered down the embankment and then became trapped underneath the bus when it came to rest.
Emergency services were forced to rescue the passengers through the coach's sun roof.
The driver was trapped inside the bus and had to be taken out on a stretcher.
Iain Heggison, who lives nearby, said: "I heard a bang. I went outside and that's when I noticed the bus in the burn.
"It was lying on its side. It was packed with kids. They were crying and hysterical. It was horrible.
"I thought I was dreaming but this is a nightmare, total nightmare."
View Untitled (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?source=embed&hl=en&geocode=&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Wiston,+Biggar,+Lanarkshire,+United+Kingdom&msa=0&msid=101065261274254213289.00048314987423727a0be&ll=55.567281,-3.644714&spn=0.043679,0.136986&z=12) in a larger map
The annual trip was organised by the school as a pre-Easter break from exam studies for sixth-year pupils.
But one mother said she was surprised the trip went ahead because of the severe weather.
Susan Thornton said she did not allow her son to go on the outing because of the "level of snow".
Larry Forde, South Lanarkshire Council's education director, said: "The headteacher Mark Sherry and everyone connected with the school wish to express their sympathies to all those involved.
"At this moment, our major focus is on the young people, their families and staff within the school.
"Social workers and psychological services have joined staff at the school offering support."
http://news.sky.com/sky-news/content/StaticFile/jpg/2010/Mar/Week4/15590084.jpg The coach was retrieved and is being investigated by police
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Schoolgirl Dies In Coach Crash On Snowy Road
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http://news.sky.com/sky-news/content/StaticFile/jpg/2010/Mar/Week4/15587229.jpg 1:00 (http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/video/Snow-Leaves-Thousands-Without-Power/Video/201003415589507?lpos=video_Article_Related_Content _Region_1&lid=VIDEO_15589507_Snow_Leaves_Thousands_Without_P ower_)
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Weather Cuts Power (http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/UK-Weather-Snow-Warnings-For-Scotland-England-And-Northern-Ireland-As-Whiteout-Conditions-Expected/Article/201003415589024?lpos=UK_News_Article_Related_Conte nt_Region_3&lid=ARTICLE_15589024_UK_Weather%3A_Snow_Warnings_F or_Scotland%2C_England_And_Northern_Ireland_As_Whi teout_Conditions_Expected)
Unlike the states, we don't get a lot of really bad weather. Especially this late, sadly another young life has been snuffed out
Latest news update
9:11pm UK, Wednesday March 31, 2010
Adam Arnold and Alison Chung, Sky News Online
A 17-year-old girl on a school trip to Alton Towers has been killed after the coach she was travelling in plunged into a stream during "horrendous" weather conditions.
Natasha Jade Paton, from Cleghorn, near Lanark, was travelling with a party of 33 children and five staff when the bus crashed on the A73 at Wiston, near Biggar, South Lanarkshire.
Her parents have issued a statement saying: "We are devastated at the loss of our beloved daughter.
"Natasha was a typical teenager and very popular with lots of friends and will be greatly missed by all who knew her."
Three youngsters were seriously injured and another eight suffered minor injuries in the accident which happened shortly after 6am.
NHS Lanarkshire said five people remain in hospital in a stable condition.
The children came from Lanark Grammar School in South Lanarkshire.
Police said the cause of the crash was still under investigation, but given the "horrendous" weather conditions, it was clear snow "had a part to play".
http://news.sky.com/sky-news/content/StaticFile/jpg/2010/Mar/Week4/15590184.jpg Natasha was on a trip with schoolmates to Alton Towers
The bus had only been on the road for about 12 miles when the driver lost control and crashed through the bridge wall, plunging 10ft into the river below.
Natasha is thought to have been thrown out of the vehicle as it careered down the embankment and then became trapped underneath the bus when it came to rest.
Emergency services were forced to rescue the passengers through the coach's sun roof.
The driver was trapped inside the bus and had to be taken out on a stretcher.
Iain Heggison, who lives nearby, said: "I heard a bang. I went outside and that's when I noticed the bus in the burn.
"It was lying on its side. It was packed with kids. They were crying and hysterical. It was horrible.
"I thought I was dreaming but this is a nightmare, total nightmare."
View Untitled (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?source=embed&hl=en&geocode=&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Wiston,+Biggar,+Lanarkshire,+United+Kingdom&msa=0&msid=101065261274254213289.00048314987423727a0be&ll=55.567281,-3.644714&spn=0.043679,0.136986&z=12) in a larger map
The annual trip was organised by the school as a pre-Easter break from exam studies for sixth-year pupils.
But one mother said she was surprised the trip went ahead because of the severe weather.
Susan Thornton said she did not allow her son to go on the outing because of the "level of snow".
Larry Forde, South Lanarkshire Council's education director, said: "The headteacher Mark Sherry and everyone connected with the school wish to express their sympathies to all those involved.
"At this moment, our major focus is on the young people, their families and staff within the school.
"Social workers and psychological services have joined staff at the school offering support."
http://news.sky.com/sky-news/content/StaticFile/jpg/2010/Mar/Week4/15590084.jpg The coach was retrieved and is being investigated by police
Bookmark the story
Schoolgirl Dies In Coach Crash On Snowy Road
If you want to track a story, you need to log in to the Sky News website.
A Sky News account will also allow you to comment on blogs and take part in online discussions.
Once you have logged in and you have tracked a story, by clicking on the red icon the updates will display in the highlighted panel.
Video
http://news.sky.com/sky-news/content/StaticFile/jpg/2010/Mar/Week4/15587229.jpg 1:00 (http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/video/Snow-Leaves-Thousands-Without-Power/Video/201003415589507?lpos=video_Article_Related_Content _Region_1&lid=VIDEO_15589507_Snow_Leaves_Thousands_Without_P ower_)
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Unlike the states, we don't get a lot of really bad weather. Especially this late, sadly another young life has been snuffed out