3 DIE IN FESTIVAL COACH HORROR; Driver among dead & 50 others hurt in mystery crash

EMERGENCY crews yesterday examine the twisted wreckage of a coach that ploughed into a tree as it returned from a music festival, killing three people and injuring 50 others.

The vehicle was packed with young pop fans when it careered off the road late at night. Most of them were asleep at the time.

Police are baffled by the crash which happened on a well-lit stretch of road in good weather conditions.

The driver, named by his boss Dave Hannell as 63-year-old Colin Daulby, was among the dead. The other two fatalities had not been named last night.

Mr Hannell said: "Nobody seemed to know what happened as they were all asleep. I can only assume he's had a heart attack and steered off the road unconscious. I'm gutted."

Some of the passengers suffered "life-changing" injuries. Others had "serious limb, head, chest and spinal damage" after getting trapped in the wreckage. Investigation officer Insp Richard Mallett said: "We believe some people might lose limbs."

He added that 11 victims were last night still being treated in hospital. The details emerged as other survivors started arriving home after Monday's horror smash near Hindhead, Surrey.

They were all from the Liverpool area. Among them were Holli Waterson, 25, and boyfriend Sam Rigby who suffered a broken foot. His dad said: "They're very shaken up." Fellow passenger Thomas Ledson was treated for shock. His mum said: "He's lucky. He knew the lads who died. They were mates. He's devastated."

Fears were last night growing that an 18-year-old festival-goer may have been killed in the crash but not yet identified as he was travelling on someone else's ticket. Michael Molloy had been due to return home on the coach but has not been heard of since.

Tributes to Michael have appeared on Twitter including one, apparently from his brother Liam, which read: "Michael died instantly due to head trauma. Alls i can really say is God really only does take the best and im gna miss him so much. LY bro x."

Kelly Marsden added: "Such sad news about michael molloy my thoughts r with" his family and friends :(."

The passengers had travelled to Bestival on the Isle of Wight last Wednesday aboard the Merseypride coach. Mr Hannell insisted the vehicle was roadworthy and called Mr Daulby, of Warrington, Cheshire, a "safety conscious and careful" driver.

The driver's neighbour Tom McLaughlin, 65, added: "He was a hard worker who loved driving his bus. He had two sons."

Insp Mallett of Surrey Police said: "We don't think road conditions or the weather were a factor in this."

Bestival organisers said: "This is devastating, our thoughts are with relatives of those affected by this tragic incident." Liverpool band Killaflaw, who played at the festival, tweeted their condolences.

VICTIMS