Bus driver to rescue at car crash in Wales
Page 73
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
On Wednesday, December 7, 1983, Mr C. was operating the 17.45 X1 bus service from Swansea Bus Station to Cardiff when a Mark 1 Ford Capri, which was travelling in front of him, crossed the central reservation and collided head-on with a Cortina travelling in the opposite carriageway. This vehicle then collided with a Ford Granada travelling in the same direction.
The accident was right alongside Mr C and he could see that it was a serious one, so he immediately stopped the bus, called out to see if anyone travelling on the bus was familiar with first aid, smashed the glass protecting the first-aid kit and fire extinguisher and ran across the road to the cars.
He could see immediately that the driver of the Ford Cortina was dead, that there was petrol leaking from the cars, and that the Ford Capri was smouldering and in danger of exploding. He used the fire extinguisher to attempt to eliminate the danger and when this was exhausted he turned to tend to the occupants of the cars. By this time there were other people arriving at the scene to help.
The driver of the Ford Capri was trapped by his legs and screaming in panic, as Mr C tried to calm him down and reassure him that the danger of the fire was over. His passenger was also in a state of shock and, after checking that he had no serious injury, Mr C took him from the car, sat him on the grass verge away from the accident and covered him with a coat.
Feeling that there was no further assistance that he was able to offer, as there were others tending to the injured, Mr C collected the empty fire extinguisher, returned to his vehicle and carried on with his journey.
Mr C was in the army from 1968 to 1976, where he received some instruction on extinguishers and fire fighting as part of his general training. He has twice represented his company at the Bus Driver of the Year Competition.