Tragic news coming out of Scotland this evening.
Police have confirmed that a man has died after a bus carrying Rangers supporters crashed in East Ayrshire.
The incident happened at around 1:15pm and of the 37 passengers on board, not including the driver, 18 were taken to hospital. At the time Police Scotland said three were being treated for serious injuries.
They later confirmed that a 39-year-old man had been pronounced dead.
As reported by the BBC, a passenger recounted that the coach had ‘swerved’ on the A76 at the Crossroads roundabout near to Bowhouse Prison, before landing on its side on a grass verge.
https://twitter.com/_ryanrowe/status/782197973094658049?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
According to reports on social media the bus had been carrying people from the Nith Valley Loyal Rangers supporters club.
Awful news concerning the tragic death of one of Nith Valley RSC members.
VB thoughts are with his family & friends at this horrible time.
— Vanguard Bears (@VanguardBears) October 1, 2016
Thoughts and prayers are with everybody at the nith valley rsc from us all at the St. Andrews chosen few 💙
— greg ollie (@thegreeeg) October 1, 2016
https://twitter.com/john_dryburgh/status/782258704154583040
Devastating news about the Nith valley rsc bus crash thoughts to the family of the member who lost his life and prayers for the injured💙💙💙
— Peter Kelman (@KelmanPeter) October 1, 2016
Ryan Rowe, from Darvel, East Ayrshire, was driving to work when he saw the accident had happened. He told ITV:
“It must have happened just five minutes before I got there
“Within two minutes the fire service, ambulance and police all turned up. There were still people trapped inside.
“One man I spoke to was just sitting down and in tears and he was shaking. “He said the bus had swerved.
“Another young man had cuts all over his arm and blood all the way down it. He was holding it in the air to try and stop the bleeding.
“Two or three windows on the bus had been smashed and when I was there paramedics were still trying to get people out of the other side that the bus was lying on.”
Rangers were playing Partick Thistle at Ibrox stadium on Saturday.
Police Scotland have now said in an updated statement:
“We can confirm a 39-year-old man has died following a serious coach crash on the A76 near Crossroads Roundabout.
“A report will be prepared for the Procurator Fiscal.
“Eighteen people are receiving treatment in hospital, three of whom are in a serious condition.
“This includes seven men under 20 years of age. Three men and three women aged between 30 and 59 and five men over 60. Enquiries are ongoing.”
