Coaches collided head on, but remarkably everyone survived
In September 1976 two coaches collided causing the dramatic scenes shown in this photograph from The News. Although seven people attended hospital all the passengers and both drivers survived the incident.
One 49-seater coach was full of personnel returning to HMS Mercury, the naval signal station near Petersfield. The other coach was travelling empty on a reverse working from HMS Mercury.
The crash happened in Lovedean Lane, Horndean, near the Bird in Hand pub. One of the coaches was ripped open and four people were trapped in the front section of the other. One poor woman was thrown through a window and hit a tree.
The worst ordeal was that of the civilian driver of the full coach, John Young, 30, of New Road East, Landport, who was trapped in the wreckage for more than an hour. A large piece of wood pierced his thigh which could not be removed by firemen so he was taken to the Royal Hospital, Portsmouth, to have it removed.
Dr Alex Larson, the consultant in charge at the Royal’s intensive care unit, said: ‘We were impressed with the care patients were given before reaching the hospital.’