Two dead in motorway coach crash

The accident involving a coach and a truck took place near junction nine for Saffron Walden.

The truck driver and a passenger on the coach, carrying up to 50 people in the region of West Yorkshire, were killed.

The road was closed between junctions 8 and 9.

Police have named the driver of the truck as Zdzislaw Piorko, 53, of Maidstone, Kent.

The passenger coach was Delia Walker, 63, of Pontefract, West Yorkshire.

Firefighters from Essex and Cambridgeshire used equipment of rescue to free themselves, but they were certified dead at the scene.

The accident occurred on the southern road and was causing long delays for people heading to the airport of Stansted and the 2000 Guineas in Newmarket race meeting.

Hard shoulder

Simon Posner, spokesman for the Confederation of passenger Transport, said the West Yorkshire area 49 adult passengers were on board.

"The pilot felt a problem with the vehicle and that it would break therefore moved to the hard shoulder with distress lights on", he said.

"Less than 30 seconds later he was hit by a truck behind.".

Mr. Posner, said the coach was only two years old and had a highly experienced pilot.

Firefighters fought to free the truck driver who was trapped in his cabin

He said that most of the passengers are now taken back to West Yorkshire in another business coaches.

The road to the North of the M11 was closed to allow access to a recovery crane, but was reopened at 1350 BST on Saturday.

The road to the South, which was in need of more work clear-up and repair of the affixed crash barrier, was reopened at TSB 1455.

Diversions are in place via the A505, A10 and A120.

The A11 was also closed to the South between the A505 and the nine junction the M11 but was reopened at TSB 1455.

Travel Shopping

Is the England Ambulance Service said 43 people had suffered minor injuries and six were seriously injured.

The victims were taken to Addenbrooke Cambridge hospital, the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow and Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford.

Three people remain in hospital with neck and back injuries.

Emergency services were called to the scene shortly before the TSB 0230.

The truck, carrying carrots, spilled its load on the road and was left on its side on an embankment with the trapped driver.

The coach, operated by Ross Travel Group of Featherstone, West Yorkshire, was standing on the shoulder of hard highway with severe damage to its sides and rear and an elderly woman trapped on board.

It is on the road to Dover take passengers destined for the Belgium on a shopping trip a day.

Essex Police have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident and call witnesses to contact them.