EMERGENCY services and medical teams from Teignbridge were drafted in to help nearly 40 passengers injured in the double decker crash between Totnes and Paignton over the weekend.

Firefighters from Newton Abbot, Bovey Tracey and Buckfastleigh, together with staff at Newton Abbot Hospital played their part in responding to Saturday morning’s major 999 shout at Longcombe Cross where eight of the 37 casualties suffered serious injuries.

Inquiries are continuing to establish exactly how the accident happened on the A385 just before 11am, sending five ambulance helicopters and fleets of police vehicles and fire appliances to the scene.

The blue and gold Stagecoach bus was en route from Torquay to Plymouth when it left the road, ploughed through a hedge and into a field where it flipped over on its side.

Police later confirmed that the driver had not been arrested, although had been helping officers with their investigation.

One un-named passenger, who had to clamber over unconscious and bleeding passengers to escape the carnage through a smashed top deck window, revealed how the bus had crashed after negotiating a ’dodgy corner,’ fuelling suspicions that the vehicle lost control on the bend.

’I just kept hoping everyone was going to be OK,’ he said.

Most of the badly injured were on the top deck, the roof of which was cut open in sections by firefighters so paramedics could stretcher out those trapped inside.

Buckfastleigh firefighter Neil Chant said afterwards: ’Our thoughts go to the people travelling on the bus who were all incredibly calm and bravery at a most distressing time.’

Jane Viner, deputy chief executive of Torbay and South Devon Foundation Trust, thanked all those who had been involved in responding to the major incident.

She praised them for responding ’very quickly’ and being ’incredibly professional and compassionate’ in looking after all casualties.

Medical staff across Devon had come in on their day off to give what help they could.

’It’s been a huge team effort by emergency services and hospital staff,’ she said, adding: ’We had extra surgeons, doctors, GPs, nurses, chaplains and many other support staff reporting for duty.’Casualties were taken to hospitals in Plymouth, Torbay, Newton Abbot and Exeter.Those checked over at Newton Abbot were discharged later in the day.