Horror land train crash leaves 18 injured including 3 children after carriage ‘tipped over’ at Cornwall holiday park

A HORROR land train crash has left 18 people injured including three children – after the carriage “tipped over” at a Cornwall holiday park.

A Land Rover Defender was towing a carriage containing children and adults at the Tregoad Caravan and Camping Park yesterday evening.

Seamus McCoy

The aftermath of the land train crash at Tregoad Holiday Park in St Martin near Looe[/caption]

Seamus McCoy

Emergency crews have remained at the scene[/caption]

Alamy

Emergency services were called to the scene at around 7pm[/caption]

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Seven people, including three children, were taken to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, Devon, for treatment and assessment.

Devon and Cornwall police said none of the wounds are life threatening or life changing.

A further eleven people were discharged at the scene with minor wounds or were uninjured, said cops.

Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

Looe Land train said:”Aa a family business we are devastated by tonight’s accident and our thoughts are with all those injured or impacted.

“We understand that none of the injuries are critical nor life threatening.

“At this time the cause of the accident is unknown. No other vehicles were involved.”

It said all further land train events for half term have been cancelled.

‘BRUTAL’

Passenger Jonah Evans, 25, told The Sun Online: “There was a train that was stopped and the other train couldn’t stop.

“And the driver couldn’t get out of the way with a train in front.

“The driver ran in and sat on a chair and said brace yourselves – we’re about to hit a train.

“Someone lost their teeth, cracked ribs.

Wondering what the hell had happened

Jonah Evans

“Because the driver told us it was happening, we could kind of get ready.”

A passenger on the Shrewsbury-bound train, Anthony Hurford, described the crash as “brutal”.

He added: “Somehow my body bent the leg of a table and ripped it off its bolts attached to the wall.

“Suddenly I was on the floor with my laptop strewn ahead of me, wondering what the hell had happened.

“We tried to stop at the lights. At the top of the hill, there’s a signal that I guess would have been a passing place and for whatever reason the train wouldn’t stop.

“There must have been 30/40 people from the fire service.

“There was British Transport Police who had come from Birmingham, there were three helicopters, people had come from north and south Wales as far as I’m aware. I was checked by three or four different medics.”

The man who died was in his sixties, police have now revealed.

Chief Inspector Jonathan Cooze(CORR), of the British Transport Police, said the circumstances leading to his death are under investigation.

He said: “While formal identification has not taken place, he is not believed to be a member of rail staff. Our thoughts remain with his loved ones.

“His next of kin have been informed and his family are receiving support from specialist officers.

“A further 15 people were taken to hospital with injuries not believed to be life-threatening or life-changing.

“All other passengers were safely evacuated from the train.”