Girl Among Four Dead As Truck Careers Down Hill

Four people have died and several others injured after a truck collided with vehicles and pedestrians in Bath.

The 32-tonne truck, which was carrying aggregate, hit a little girl and another pedestrian first.

The pedestrian is in a "very critical" condition according to Chief Superintendent Caroline Peters.

It then continued downhill and struck a number of vehicles, killing three adults who were in the same car in Lansdown Lane, Upper Weston, just after 4pm on Monday.

Four people were also injured and have been taken to the Royal United Hospital in Bath and Southmead Hospital in Bristol.

Witnesses suggested that the driver, who was among those injured, was trying to avoid an accident.

A spokesman from Avon and Somerset Police said: "Four people have died at the scene and there are several people injured.

"We're working with South Western Ambulance Service and Avon Fire and Rescue Service at the scene.

"The area is closed off to allow for investigative work to take place."

Police officers have closed off the area, which is near a primary school, as investigation work takes place.

A spokeswoman for South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust said: "We can confirm that we have taken one patient by air ambulance to Southmead Hospital in Bristol.

"Three patients have been taken to the Royal United Hospital in Bath."

Chris Lucas took a photo of two air ambulance helicopters which landed on a playing field after the crash.

He said: "My children were coming home and as I opened the front door my neighbour said 'Oh my God there has been a crash, I'm going to call the emergency services'.

"One thing that is really concerning is that road is on the school pick-up run. Weston All Saints Primary School is right next to it.

"All fatalities are awful, but I am praying there are no children involved."

Don Foster, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath, wrote on Twitter: "Very sorry to learn of tragic, fatal accident in Weston, Bath, this evening. Condolences to friends and families."

He said the council had imposed a 20mph speed limit on parts of the road to improve safety.

"It is a road where we have put speed limits in and flashing lights because it is quite a steep hill coming down," he added.

"There have been attempts by the council over the years to improve safety on the road."

Weston All Saints Primary School will be closed on Tuesday, a spokesman for Bath and North East Somerset Council said.