On 18.08.2008 in the town of Alton (Staffordshire) an accident occurred involving an English coach carrying 70 passengers. The passengers were citizens of Lithuania, Latvia, Romania, Poland and one citizen of South Africa, who were employees of a fruit farm on their way back from the Alton Towers entertainment park.

        For reasons that remain unclear, the coach drove into two stationary vehicles, broke through a brick wall at the side of the road brick, slid 10-15 feet down an embankment and then turned on its side.       

        One person died as a result of the accident (a Polish citizen) and 21 people were injured, including 12 Polish citizens. At present there are three Polish citizens (according to doctors in a serious condition) in hospital in Stoke-on-Trent.

        The Polish Consul General in Manchester has travelled to the scene of the accident and is in direct contact with those who are leading the investigation and with the people who are in hospital as well as their families.

        Information about those who were injured in the accident can be obtained by calling the following number 0044 776 997 5719 (duty Consul).

 

Piotr Paszkowski
MFA Press Spokesman