Shropshire Star

Justice for father after 18 years

The father of a Shropshire woman killed with 10 others in a holiday coach crash 18 years ago has won his fight to get the case heard at the European Court of Human Rights. The father of a Shropshire woman killed with 10 others in a holiday coach crash 18 years ago has won his fight to get the case heard at the European Court of Human Rights. David Sanders's daughter, Teresa Sanders, died with six other Shropshire people on board a coach travelling on a French motorway on its way back from the Costa Brava. Teresa, 18, who was 17-weeks pregnant when she died, had been on a "honeymoon" holiday with her fiance Darren Turton, 22, who survived. In 2006 - 16 years after the crash - Mr Michael Gwynne, Telford & Wrekin coroner, recorded verdicts of accidental death on all 11 victims and apologised to the families for having to wait so long to get any answers. Mr Sanders, formerly from Stirchley, Telford, is claiming compensation from the French judiciary for the loss of his daughter and the delay in hearing the case. Read the full story in today's Shropshire Star 

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Teresa Sanders and Savid SandersThe father of a Shropshire woman killed with 10 others in a holiday coach crash 18 years ago has won his fight to get the case heard at the European Court of Human Rights.

David Sanders's daughter, Teresa Sanders, died with six other Shropshire people on board a coach travelling on a French motorway on its way back from the Costa Brava.

Teresa, 18, who was 17-weeks pregnant when she died, had been on a "honeymoon" holiday with her fiance Darren Turton, 22, who survived.

In 2006 - 16 years after the crash - Mr Michael Gwynne, Telford & Wrekin coroner, recorded verdicts of accidental death on all 11 victims and apologised to the families for having to wait so long to get any answers.

Mr Sanders is claiming compensation from the French judiciary for the loss of his daughter and the delay in hearing the case.

Today Mr Sanders, formerly from Stirchley, Telford, said: "I put the application into the Court of Human Rights and have just had a letter saying they acknowledge the receipt of my application and the court will deal with my case as soon as possible.

"I am claiming compensation from the French judiciary for the time factor it took and for the loss of my daughter.

"They failed with the case. I think it was justice denied.

"For those who said 'Why did it take 18 years?', hopefully they'll get their answers via the Court of Human Rights."

Mr Gwynne said the trauma suffered by bereaved families had been made much worse by the 16-year delay on the part of the French authorities.

After the inquest, Mr Sanders said there was "no excuse" for the delay, while other bereaved families said their grief had turned to anger due to the wait.

The inquest heard the bus driver had been flouting the speed limit, despite complaints from frightened passengers, and the coach tyres had all been under-inflated when the crash happened on June 3 1990, near Cudot on the A6 motorway 80 miles south east of Paris.

The six crash victims from Telford, had been among 75 people on board the coach operated by Montego European Travel, of Leek, and hired by Dawley-based Pineda Holidays.

By Kirsty Marston

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