Police have confirmed that an ambulance involved in a death crash with a bus and car near York had been stolen minutes before the collision.
The driver of the private ambulance has died in the crash at about 8.30pm on Friday (April 10) on the A64 near the Flaxton junction, east of York.
Police revealed on Saturday (April 11) that the vehicle was reported stolen at about 8.10pm on Friday night. They were actively looking for the vehicle when police were notified of the accident.
The driver of the ambulance was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the double-decker Yorkshire Coastliner bus was taken to hospital with serious leg injuries, where he remained on Saturday morning.
We're aware that one of our Coastliner buses was amongst the vehicles involved in tonight's tragic incident on the A64.
— Yorkshire Coastliner (@yorkbus) April 10, 2015
Our thoughts go out to everyone involved, including our driver and his family. We're doing all we can to help the Police in their enquiries.
— Yorkshire Coastliner (@yorkbus) April 10, 2015
Car and bus passengers taken to hospital
There were 16 passengers on the bus, five of whom were taken to hospital for treatment. Their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
A third vehicle involved in the collision, a Toyota Yaris, contained two people, one of whom was taken to hospital as a precaution.
The A64 was closed in both directions between the B1248 near Norton and the A1237 north of York while collision investigators examine the scene. It reopened at 6am on Saturday morning.
Police are asking anyone who witnessed the incident, or either of the vehicles involved prior to the collision, to get in touch.
– Sergeant Ian Pope, of North Yorkshire Police’s Major Collision Investigation Team
Details of how to get in touch below.
How to help the police
How to help the police| Call North Yorkshire Police on 101, press option 1 and pass information to the Force Control Room |
| Email Sgt Pope here | |
| Quote reference number 556 of 10 April |
Awful news. I use this bus on a weekly basis to Leeds.
See you both in July guys. Maybe another goodbye party haha! Big big hugs for both of you xxxxx
It was big I was just behind it all. Until i decided to follow the 25 other people who thought they knew an alternative route via Royston Vasey.