Driver dies after being run over by own coach at Famous Lee Mill - 18 April 2013

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

The coach stopped because of a suspected mechanical problem

A coach driver has died after being run over by his own vehicle in a car park in Devon.

The 50-year-old from Newton Abbot got off the coach at the Famous Lee Mill clothes store, near Plymouth, and it rolled forward. The driver was taken to Plymouth's Derriford Hospital after the accident at 17:00 BST on Thursday, but died from his injuries.

The coach was carrying people on a day trip from Paignton. They were looked after by staff from the shop after the incident.

Two doctors from the medical charity British Association for Immediate Care (Basics) assisted emergency services at the scene. The charity said it was believed the driver stopped the coach because of a suspected mechanical problem and the vehicle rolled forward as he got out to inspect it.

No other vehicle was involved, police said. An investigation has begun into the cause.

[bobm]

An update from This is South Devon.

A TORQUAY coach driver who died in an accident in Ivybridge has been formally identified^
 
The deceased was Jeremy Takel, aged 50. The accident happened just before 5.00pm on Thursday 18 April when a single vehicle collision occurred in the car park of the Famous Lee Mill, Lee Mill Bridge, Ivybridge.
 
Mr Takel had been driving the vehicle - a coach carrying passengers on a day excursion from Paignton. Mr Takel had exited the coach which then rolled forward into a hedge, trapping him underneath.
 
Mr Takel received serious injuries and died at Derriford Hospital shortly after arrival. Weather conditions at the time were fine and clear.
 
Passengers on the bus were looked after by Lee Mill staff.
 
Officers from the Serious Collisions Investigation unit attended the scene and an investigation is on-going into the circumstances surrounding the collision.
 
Anyone who witnessed the incident are asked to contact police on 101, quoting police reference 498 180413.
 
Correction
 
Initial reports of the fatal accident suggested that Mr Takel came from Newton Abbot. The police have now corrected this. The deceased had previously been living in the Tiverton area but more recently had been living in Torquay.

[plymothian]

Sadly Jerry was a friend of mine.

[grahame]

Sadly Jerry was a friend of mine.

Sh*t - I'm sorry.  Behind each accident are very real people; times like this bring that home. May Jerry rest in peace, and you remember him for good times together and the depth of experiences he brought.