Dozens die in India truck crash

22 August 2011 Last updated at 08:20 GMT At least 41 people have been killed after a truck overturned and fell into a roadside ditch in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, police say.

The truck was carrying pilgrims to a temple in the state's Ballia district.

There were more than 60 passengers on board and police said that more than a dozen people were also injured

The ditch was full of water and police said that most of the deaths were due to drowning.

More than 100,000 people die every year in road accidents in India - the highest road death toll in the world.

Most of the accidents are blamed on reckless driving, old vehicles and bad roads.

View the original article here

Arrows crash probe to take weeks

22 August 2011 Last updated at 13:55 GMT Flt Lt Egging was known to colleagues and friends as 'Eggman' An investigation into a crash which killed a member of the Red Arrows display team could take weeks, officials have indicated.

All Hawk T1 aircraft were grounded after Flt Lt Jon Egging died when his plane came down after a display near Bournemouth airport on Saturday.

The incident is now the subject of a Military Aviation Authority investigation, which has no time limit.

An inquest in Bournemouth was opened and adjourned earlier.

The inquest heard 33-year-old Flt Lt Egging's body was found close to the crash site near the River Stour.

A post-mortem examination showed the cause of death was multiple injuries.

The inquest was adjourned while investigations are carried out.

Coroner Sheriff Payne said it was unlikely that a full inquest would be held for up to 12 months.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said the Military Aviation Authority investigation could take weeks but an interim report was expected within days.

While this is under way all flights by the Hawk T1 - a fleet of about 170 aircraft including trainers - have been suspended.

'Very upset'

At the Red Arrows' base at RAF Scampton, in Lincolnshire, an unofficial memorial has been growing as well-wishers leave tributes.

A book of condolence has also been opened.

Enthusiast John Robinson said: "It has been has been very sad, there is normally quite a buzz about the place but it is very low level now.

"Obviously the main topic of conversation has been this sad loss and a lot of people are very upset."

All nine Red Arrows display pilots are fast jet pilots from front-line RAF squadrons.

Flt Lt Egging joined the RAF in 2000 and served with IV (AC) Squadron, based at RAF Cottesmore, flying the Harrier GR9 in support of coalition forces in Afghanistan.

The Red Arrows have used the dual control BAE Systems Hawk T1 aircraft since 1979.

View the original article here

India helicopter crash site found

4 May 2011 Last updated at 06:54 GMT Mr Khandu was travelling with four others The wreckage of a helicopter carrying the chief minister of India's Arunachal Pradesh state has been spotted by search teams, officials say.

The helicopter carrying Dorjee Khandu and four others went missing on Saturday en route to Tawang from the state capital, Itanagar.

Three bodies have been seen in the wreckage near the Lugudhang area located at 4,900m.

Army rescue teams are tying to reach the site.

India's Home Minister P Chidambaram told reporters that the wreckage had been spotted in an area between Kyela and Lugudhang in Arunachal Pradesh, a location that "could have been" on the flight path of the helicopter.

A team of soldiers are on their way by foot to the crash site, he said.

India launched one of its biggest search operations, involving thousands of security forces, for the missing helicopter.

Reports said more than 10,000 people, including 3,000 security forces from India and neighbouring Bhutan, fighter jets and army helicopters were engaged in the five-day search in a mountainous, snow-clad region.

Mr Khandu's son, Tashi Tsering Khandu, had also joined the search operations by foot along with a team of 100 men.

The other passengers on the helicopter were Mr Khandu's security officer Yeshi Choddak and a relative of a state lawmaker, Yeshi Lamu, and two crew members JS Babbar and KS Malick.

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Mother of fatal crash girl dies

29 April 2011 Last updated at 11:54 The collision closed the road between Gilwern and Brynmawr The mother of a six-year-old girl killed in a road crash on the A465 Heads of the Valleys road in south Wales has now also died.

Stephanie Curtis, 35, from Blaenau Gwent, was driving a blue Peugeot which was in collision with a silver Mercedes on Thursday.

Ffion Elizabeth Merrifield died after the crash while her mother died later in hospital.

Two women in the Mercedes both suffered minor injuries.

The crash happened on the eastbound carriageway between Brynmawr, Blaenau Gwent and Gilwern, Monmouthshire at about 1100 BST.

Ms Curtis died of her injuries at the University of Wales Hospital in Cardiff.

The mother and daughter were from the Nantyglo area of Blaenau Gwent.

All involved in the crash were initially taken to Nevill Hall Hospital, Abergavenny.

Gwent Police said the Mercedes was being driven by a 69-year-old from Gilwern. Both she and her passenger are still in hospital.

The A465 was closed in both directions between Gilwern and Conoco roundabout at Brynmawr while emergency services were in attendance.

Gwent Police is investigating the collision and anyone who may have witnessed the collision is asked to contact the force's collision investigation unit on 01633 642404 or by dialling 101.

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Crash death driver's sentence cut

11 February 2011 Last updated at 08:31 GMT Donna Wells died when Pitcher's car left the road and hit a tree A Lincoln man convicted of causing the death of his passenger in a car crash has had his sentence reduced on appeal.

Lucas Pitcher was jailed in December after admitting causing 31-year-old Donna Wells' death by careless driving.

The 23-year-old lost control of his Peugeot 307 and hit a tree on Somerton Gate Lane in Waddington, near Lincoln, in December 2009.

On Thursday, judges at London's Appeal Court cut his jail term from 12 months to eight months.

Pitcher, who worked with Ms Wells in the NHS, was giving her a lift when his office car span off the road, his trial last year at Lincoln Crown Court heard.

The prosecution claimed he was paying insufficient attention as the car approached a crest in the road.

Pitcher, of St Helens Avenue, also suffered serious injuries in the crash, including head wounds and fractures.

The Appeal Court was told the stretch of Somerton Gate Lane had been the scene of other serious accidents in the past.

Sir David Clarke, sitting with Lord Justice Moore-Bick and Mr Justice Nicol, said Pitcher was exceeding the 60mph speed limit before the crash, but had been "deeply affected" by the loss of his friend and colleague.

The crown court judge had faced a "difficult sentencing exercise", added Sir David, concluding that 12 months was too long.

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.