A WOMAN has died and 13 people left injured after a crash between a car and a double decker bus.

A WOMAN has died and 13 people left injured after a crash between a car and a double decker bus.

The accident, which involved a First Eastern Counties bus travelling on the X1 route between Lowestoft and Peterborough, happened at 11.10am on the A47 at Thorney near Peterborough.

The road was closed in both directions from the Eye roundabout to the Guyhirn roundabout, with diversions put in place.

Police, ambulance, air ambulance and fire crews all attended. The bus ended up in a ditch and several casualties had to be released by firefighters.

Martin Boome, Incident Commander for Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “The bus left the road and landed face down in the ditch, which meant the casualties inside had difficulty in escaping from the vehicle.

“We have now rescued nine casualties from the vehicle, by unbolting seats and removing a window. One of the casualties had to be lifted out by crews on a spinal board.

“The casualties have now been taken to hospital by ambulance.”

A spokesman for the ambulance service said there was one fatality, who it is thought died at the scene, and a woman had been taken by air ambulance to Addenbrooke's Hospital with a fractured pelvis.

“This was a well attended incident with fire and police on the scene, six ambulances and both air ambulances and two senior officers,” she added.

“There were six walking wounded with various injuries taken to Peterborough Hospital and a further person was collared and boarded with a suspected back and neck injury.”

Five more patients were treated at the scene but not taken to hospital.

Gussy Alamein, spokesman for First Eastern Counties, said: “Twelve people were on the bus and one was airlifted to Addenbrooke's Hospital and the others I think were termed as walking wounded and were taken to Peterborough and King's Lynn hospitals, from my understanding.

“The driver of the bus has cuts and bruises but is not in a serious condition.

“Obviously there are some delays but buses are missing out the stop at Thorney Toll where the accident happened and being diverted through Thorney itself.

“We would like to offer our deepest sympathies to the family of the car driver who tragically died in this incident.”