Devon bus crash: At least eight seriously injured after double-decker overturns
Up to eight people are believed to have been seriously injured after a double-decker bus overturned in a crash in Devon, police have said.
Emergency services declared a "major incident" after the collision on the A385 Totnes Road, between Totnes and Paignton, at around 11am on Saturday.
A large number of police, fire and ambulance service vehicles, including helicopters, attended the scene where the bus had fallen on its side in a field.
Devon and Cornwall police initially said one person was thought to have been seriously injured, with more than a dozen receiving minor injuries.
But shortly after 3pm the force said in an statement: "Health partners have indicated there may now be up to eight casualties who are described as having potentially seriously injuries."
The force said casualties were receiving treatment at hospitals across the region, while uninjured passengers were taken to Paignton bus station and Paignton Library to help them with their onward journeys.
It added: "All casualties have left the location however the road will remain closed for [the] foreseeable future as investigative work continues at the scene.
"Officers from the serious collisions investigation unit remain at the scene and their enquiries continue.
"We can confirm that the driver of the bus has not been arrested, but he is helping police with our investigations into this incident.
"We also have over a dozen people who have sustained minor injuries and remain at the scene."
Police said the South West Ambulance Service had declared the collision a "major incident" and sent ambulance, patient transport vehicles and the air ambulance to provide support.
Photos shared by the DevonLive news website showed the Stagecoach Gold double-decker bus overturned on its side in a field.
Liberal Democrat MP for Totnes, Sarah Wollaston, said: "Dreadful news, thank you to all our emergency services responding in difficult conditions."
A witness told the website: "Very bad accident outside Totnes.
"There are many people with very severe injuries. Maybe 20 with some trapped."I was passing and stopped to help but a lot of people too injured to move."
A spokesman for Stagecoach South West said: "We can confirm one of our buses has been involved in an incident on the A385 between Paignton and Totnes.
"Emergency services are at the scene. Our immediate thoughts are for those involved and we are helping the emergency services in any way that we can.
"Safety is our absolute priority and we will be assisting the investigation into the circumstances involved in the incident."
Police said road closures remained in place near the scene and advised drivers to avoid the area.