Tourists’ fortunate escape after coach topples into ditch

A group of Belgian tourists had a lucky escape last Friday when the coach they were travelling in toppled into a ditch near junction 10 of the M20.

It is understood the vehicle was suffering from mechanical problems on the motorway so the driver pulled off the M20 onto the A2070 dual carriageway at around 11.30am.

The driver then turned down Church Road, Sevington to pull over but the vehicle went into a ditch at the side of the road which left the coach balanced precariously on its side.

Amazingly no one was seriously injured with paramedics treating just minor cuts and bruises at the scene.

The most prominent damage appeared to be the coach’s smashed windscreen.

There were fears that the busy A2070, heading towards Orbital Park, would have to closed just before the evening rush hour period in order to recover the vehicle.

However, in the end it wasn’t necessary and the coach was recovered, and Church Road cleared, by about 5pm.

A police spokesman said: “We were called at 11.28am.

“Officers attended along with ambulance staff but no serious injuries were reported.”

Picture: Mick Gould’s Commercials Ltd A coach with tourists from Belgium suffered a brakes failure on the M20 motorway. The driver managed to get the coach off the motorway and into a country road where it then crashed into a ditch

Picture: Mick Gould’s Commercials Ltd Top, the coach was being driven on the M20 when it suffered mechanical problems but the driver managed to guide the vehicle off the motorway. Above, the coach is recovered