Minibus smashes into Eurotunnel train leaving 19 people injured

A minibus collided with a LeShuttle train on the French side of the Channel Tunnel near Calais,injuring 19 people,five of them critically.

At least 19 people have been injured after a minibus smashed into a Channel Tunnel train.

The minibus flipped onto the railway tracks,hitting a stationary freight train in Pas-de-Calais at around 8pm.

The bus,carrying 19 people including the driver,was loading HGV drivers onto a LeShuttle train when they crashed.

An image shared on social media shows the front of a shuttle bus smashed.

Injured people,believed to be of different nationalities,can be seen getting treatment at the scene as police seal off the platform.

None of the injuries are thought to be life-threatening,according to local Pas-de-Calais authorities.

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Start your day informed with Metro's News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens.Two of the more seriously injured victims were airlifted to the Lille University Hospital for treatment.‘For reasons currently unknown,the minibus collided with the shuttle as it was departing,’ the state representative,Agathe Cury told a press conference. She also clarified that ‘the bus did not overturn.’‘A judicial inquiry has been opened. This is the first time an accident of this type has occurred’ on the Eurotunnel loading platform in Coquelles.The accident occurred ‘at the loading dock of the Eurotunnel site’ in Coquelles. (AFP via Getty Images)Some victims are suffering from leg and head pain,but no deaths were reported.Firefighters,paramedics,police and an intensive care unit helicopter are on the scene.The accident occurred ‘at the loading dock of the Eurotunnel site’ in Coquelles.The 31.5-mile tunnel connects Folkestone to Calais and is one of the world’s longest undersea tunnels.The Channel Tunnel has three parallel tunnels running through: two rail tunnels and a smaller central service tunnel used for maintenance andemergencies.Its deepest point is about 75m below sea level.Eurostar said their high-speed services were unaffected by the crash.‘An incident occurred several kilometres away from the Channel Tunnel tonight,not involving Eurostar.‘This incident does not impact Eurostar trains running from and to London. All of Eurostar trains will run as expected,’ the statement says.This is a breaking news story… More to follow…