Cornwall Coach Crash Driver Arrested as Second Elderly Passenger Confirmed Dead

The driver of a coach that smashed into a hedge and killed two elderly female passengers in Cornwall has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

The 57-year-old man was taken into police custody at Launceston, about 50 miles north of where the crash happened, after the vehicle he was driving slammed collided outside the resort of Looe. Forty people were injured.

One woman was pronounced dead at the scene and the second died on arrival at hospital. Seven other passengers are in a critical condition.

It is believed the party of tourists had been heading towards Looe from Exmouth. The vehicle was travelling downhill when the crash happened.

The trip had been organised by the old-age charity Age Concern.

South West Ambulance service said it was treating 13 people, eight in serious condition.

A force spokesman had earlier confirmed that all of those injured were passengers on the Carmel Coaches vehicle and were thought to be in their 60s or 70s.

Most of the casualties have now been removed from the scene.