One man dead after Rangers supporters bus crash
A 39-year-old man has died following a Rangers supporters bus crash in Ayrshire which left 18 people in hospital.
A 39-year-old man has died following a Rangers supporters bus crash in Ayrshire which left 18 people in hospital.
The crash happened on the A76 at the Crossroads roundabout near to Bowhouse Prison on Saturday at around 1.15pm.
One passenger said the coach swerved'' at the roundabout and the bus landed on its side on a grass verge.
The coach was travelling to Ibrox Stadium, where Rangers were due to play Partick Thistle.
Police Scotland said in a statement: Police Scotland can confirm a 39-year-old man has died following a serious coach crash on the A76 near Crosshouse Roundabout.
Eighteen people are receiving treatment in hospital, three of whom are in a serious condition. This includes seven men under 20 years of age, three men and three women aged between 30 and 59 and five men over 60.
A report will be prepared for the procurator fiscal. A total of 36 people, plus the driver, were on board at the time of the crash. Earlier, police said three people being treated in hospital were in a serious condition.
Rangers assistant manager Davie Weir said he had only just heard'' about the crash.
He said: I've only just heard about it. Obviously there are things more important than football.
Until we get all the details, I think it would be unwise to comment.
But our thoughts are with the people involved, the families involved, and I'm sure the club will be very supportive in regards to anything they can do to help the situation.''
Ryan Rowe, from Darvel, East Ayrshire, was driving to work when he passed the crash scene.
He said: It must have happened just five minutes before I got there.
Within two minutes the fire service, ambulance and police all turned up.
There were still people trapped inside.
One man I spoke to was just sitting down and in tears and he was shaking.
He said the bus had swerved.
Another young man had cuts all over his arm and blood all the way down it. He was holding it in the air to try and stop the bleeding.
Two or three windows on the bus had been smashed and when I was there paramedics were still trying to get people out of the other side that the bus was lying on.''
He said many of the passengers appeared to be in their teens or early twenties.
A screen has been erected around part of the damaged coach.
John Linton, a photographer who was at the scene, said it appeared the coach had either skidded into the verge or caught the camber of the roundabout and been left on its side.
He said: They have screened it off, so that would suggest there was something pretty bad down there.
There's a screen at the rear end of the coach.
There were smashed windows and an emergency door at the back was broken.''
Emergency services remain at the scene and the road has been closed in both directions while crash scene investigators carry out inquiries.
Inspector Darren Faulds said: Inquiries are ongoing to establish the cause of the crash and anyone with any information is asked to call road policing officers at Irvine Police Office on 101.''
The bus was carrying fans from the Nith Valley Loyal Rangers Supporters' Club.
The bus was carrying fans from the Nith Valley Loyal Rangers Supporters' Club.
The club said in a statement: The club would like to thank everyone for their good wishes and concern at this sad time.''
The other side of the Old Firm released a statement passing on their condolences.
Celtic said: In relation to news of today's accident involving Rangers supporters on their way to the match, everyone at Celtic sends our sincere condolences following the death of a supporter.
We would like of course to also offer our best wishes to all those involved in this accident.
We understand a significant number of people have been affected and our thoughts are very much with them at what will be a difficult time for all these supporters and their families.''