Despite a clearly visible sign on the only access road to the beach the driver of a minibus drove his vehicle onto the beach and subsequently got it stuck in the sand.
An eye witness saw the vehicle being driven down the ramp onto the sand and turn left around the rocks. The sand was very wet already as the tide was on its way in. The minibus wheels sank into the sand just a few feet from the waters edge.
The young passengers were evacuated and taken to the car park for safety while attempts were made to free the stranded vehicle. All attempts failed and the sea claimed the minibus.
Police sealed off the area and during the course of the afternoon the tide brought the vehicle round to the bottom of the ramp where it continued to get battered by the waves.
Eventually Simon was able to tow the vehicle to safety using his JCB. It now stands in a ruined condition in the village car park.
Simon was later heard to say that he has recently had to tow three vehicles off Marazion beach which were stuck in the sand.
This has got to go out as a warning. Quite a few people drive their vehicles onto the beach for one reason or another. This is not only very dangerous and inconsiderate to others it is also very costly to all those concerned, and that includes the enviroment. The smell of fuel filled the air as the tide was knocking the minibus about.
The signs are there for a reason.
You must lead a very sad life if you have nothing better to do with your time than take pictures and write articles like this...we all make mistakes..i`m sure the driver is feeling bad enough already..!!
ReplyDeleteDoesn't hurt to have a stark reminder though eh? Others might learn from this person's mistake.
ReplyDeletetaint goin zackly ....
ReplyDeleteAs you can see from some of the photos this bus was from Nancealvern school. I expect the driver thought he could give the disabled children a chance to see this lovely beach as I assume at least some of them would have been in wheelchairs and unable to access this beach any other way. I'm sure there will now be a lot of questions asked at that school about what has happened and the driver whose intentions I am sure were good will probably be in trouble. Whilst this is a warning to others the report was very smug - accidents do happen!!!
ReplyDeleteI do not see any reason for the driver to go onto the beach, he/she could have driven to the top of the ramp and then reversed back! All off the children that I saw from the school were able to walk anyway!! The loss of the mini bus to the school is a costly error, not to mention the fact that the safety of its young passengers was put at risk.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe some of the comments that have been made. If any of the children were in wheelchairs then the ramp down to the beach is ideal for them. Whoever was in charge of this party of children with special needs should have taken far more care - just a walk down the ramp onto the sand would have shown that the sand is soft and waterlogged at the moment and is never suitable for vehicles.
ReplyDeleteWe in Perranuthnoe take great pride in our lovely safe beach - this event could have resulted in disaster & have led to visitors avoiding the village in the future.
Well said Perranlady!!!!
ReplyDeletethat side door never did work properly
ReplyDeletePeople will make comments when they don't know the full story. Oh, well, sad people! One person very wrong- no they all couldn't walk. And, another comment soooo right- stupid door never worked properly!!!
ReplyDeleteI can't understand why the driver disobeyed the sign?? It's clear enough, despite his intentions - whatever they were!! :)
ReplyDeleteHell of a way to get the van washed!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWonder if L.P. now does it???!!!
As a parent of a Nancealverne student I will firstly state categorically that all staff put the safety and wellbeing of the students first. This has always been the number one priority. For all you folks who are having a dig at the driver (and yes he is highly embarrassed and upset) and have never made a mistake in your lives and have never either not seen or ignored a sign, put your hands up, my goodness you must be so unique and have led an extremely boring life. A mistake was made, the students are safe and no one got hurt.
ReplyDeleteWell said Parent of one of the children. The staff at the school are committed and completely devoted to the children, their needs and their safety. Unfortunately there was an incident but no one was injured and the staff did a fantastic job of keeping the children safe and calm!! Lets look at the positive side of it, maybe the school has raised awareness of the dangers of driving onto the sand and helped keep others of the beach in the future!
ReplyDeleteI would like to add my comment yes the driver made a mistake as do we ALL and i know we all do. But maybe just maybe the drivers attention was distracted for a moment and missed the sign. How about we stop critasising the mistake of one person and learn from it I.E perhaps put a chain accross the road to stop vehicles but leaving access for the emergency services
ReplyDeleteWhat is wrong with people? A mistake?? this is no 'mistake' a mistake is giving someone tea instead of coffee not driving a minibus (with children aboard!!!) onto wet sand with the tide in!
ReplyDelete'Distracted and missed the sign' what both of them? and then turn sharp right down the ramp and onto the sand....must have been VERY distracted....good job he/she wasn't on the main road at the time.
Come on people get real, if this had of ended in tragedy (thank god it didn't) would you still be saying 'the driver made a mistake'?
Sorry Folks this may come as a bit of a shock but even teachers make mistakes!!!
ReplyDeleteMistakes can kill people, thank God everyone is okay and I should think the driver is a little more than embarresed.
ReplyDeleteWill this person be allowed to drive again if they can be so easily distracted?
What might happen if they are distracted enough to miss a road sign?
once again people are quick to judge obviously i will not be visiting the house where i may get tea not coffee god forbid how about we stop this argument. What happend, happend and it is over, no one got hurt the teachers i hear were outstanding with removing the children safely, and the driver will have to account for what happened as i said before just put a chain in the way it is simple and easy to do. lets just STOP this petty argument
ReplyDeleteThe Cornishman in its report on this unfortunate incident indicates that a full investigation is to be held by Nancealvern School's governing body. We all await its findings with interest. Similarly the findings of the Health and Safety Executives investigation, (assumuming the incident has in fact been reported to them)will clarify matters further, apportion responsibility and set protocols to ensure similar events do not occur in the future. The teacher in charge was in loco parentis of a group of vulnerable students and such reckless actions could have resulted in psychological harm, physical injury or death. Fortunately on this occasion only loss of property, albeit a mini bus donated by a charity, has occured. The publication of the findings, lessons learnt and actions taken are required before the matter should be laid to rest.
ReplyDeleteGlad to see Nancealverne school are embracing outdoor pursuits. I just hope there was a Royal Yacht Assn. instructor available.
ReplyDelete