12 holidaymakers killed in coach horror

A FLEET of six helicopters yesterday flew to hospital severely injured passengers from a tour bus that crashed, killing 12 people, near the German capital, Berlin.

The dead were those of Polish families en route to the border city of Frankfurt-Oder and several children were reported to be among the victims.

The accident happened when the coach collided with the supports of a bridge spanning the motorway at Potsdam.

Police say the driver lost control when swerving to avoid a car pulling on to the A10 autobahn from a slip road. It remained unclear whether the coach had actually collided with the car before slamming into the bridge pilings.

At least 14 people were seriously hurt, and another 16 of the 46 passengers slightly injured. Four of the dead were hurled through the windows of the coach; the other eight victims were inside.

The motorway was closed as 250 emergency workers fought to get the wounded out of the wreckage.

Peter Salender, a police spokesman, said; "This is an appalling accident. We have not dealt with a crash like this for a long time."

The autobahn was strewn with wreckage over a wide area.

The accident happened in pouring rain. The Polish families - the adults were employees of the Forestry Commission from the town of Zlocieniec - were returning home after a week's holiday in Spain.

"There are terrible scenes here," one firefighter told a local radio station. "The helicopters are landing on the opposite carriageway to take the wounded on board, before lifting off again in a shuttle service.

"It is heartbreaking to see the personal possessions of these kids strewn all over the place. Those who have survived with light injuries are in deep shock."

Klaus Scholz, 68, a veteran counsellor at accident scenes in Germany, said the wreck was among the worst he had ever seen.

"It was a picture of horror," he said. "There were bodies on the road and the dazed survivors walking among them. There was crying and there was numbness too.

"We tried to provide the injured with shelter and liquids. There was a great deal of confusion because of the language barrier. We were conversing in gestures.

"Many of the survivors had made themselves comfortable on the coach by taking their shoes off and so were barefoot in the wreckage.

"I believe some of the rescue workers may need counselling after this."

The bus slewed to a halt 150ft from the bridge and by dusk was still blocking the motorway.