Fatal ice crash driver is named

One coach hit a tree, the other slid across the road

A coach driver who died when his vehicle crashed off an isolated country road early on Tuesday morning has been named by Humberside Police.

Kevin Wilkinson, 27, of Strathmore Avenue, Hull, was driving a Volvo single-deck 53-seat coach which crashed in icy conditions.

Mr Wilkinson was taking workers to Malton Bacon factory when the accident happened on the B1248 road.

He was pronounced dead at the scene despite efforts to save him.

Sheet ice

The driver of a second coach which was following Mr Wilkinson's vehicle crashed while taking avoiding action.

The second driver, a 53-year-old Hull man suffered leg injuries, but still tried to provide first-aid for Mr Wilkinson.

Hull Royal Infirmary treated 10 people from the crash for minor injuries.

Both coaches were travelling from Hull on a regular run to the bacon company.

The first coach, operated by Jim Bell Travel, was carrying 36 Czech workers when it hit a tree.

The second bus, operated by East Yorkshire Motor Services, had nine Portuguese workers on board.

Inspector Steve Anderson, of Humberside Police, said when he arrived on the scene at 0600 GMT the road "was like a sheet of ice".

He continued: "The road had been gritted on Monday, but it had rained overnight which would have washed the grit away."

Nick Grainger, from Humberside Fire Service, said: "Road conditions were truly treacherous with black ice."

Peter Shipp of East Yorkshire Motor Services said the surviving driver was taken to hospital suffering from a suspected broken foot.

"I'm not sure that he was aware of that at the time because we understand that after the incident he got out and, being a trained first-aider, tried to offer some assistance to the other driver who was quite clearly in a bad way.

"He was unable to do anything, I think, then our driver made sure our coach passengers were secure and as comfortable as they could be."

A spokesman for Jim Bell Travel of Hull confirmed that one of the firm's drivers had died and offered "sincere heartfelt condolences" to his family.

Humberside Police is conducting a full inquiry into how the accident happened.