Six Marines Hurt In Coach Crash

The vehicle with 29 marines on board crashed on the A40 near Cheltenham in Gloucestershire at around 5.20 a.m.

A coach carrying Royal Marines heading to Afghanistan crashed in icy conditions on Wednesday morning, the Ministry of Defence said.

The vehicle with 29 marines on board crashed on the A40 near Cheltenham in Gloucestershire at around 5.20 a.m. The soldiers, from 42 Commando unit, were heading from their base in Plymouth to the RAF Brize Norton base in Oxfordshire.

Police said the 39-year-old coach driver, believed to be a civilian, was the most seriously hurt. The MoD said six marines were also injured in the crash and were being treated at a local hospital. Five were expected to be discharged later.

The accident was one of dozens that occurred in difficult, icy driving conditions across the country, police said.