Three killed in coach that may have been overloaded before hitting tree Investigators are now expected to inquire into whether the coach had taken on too many passengers. A Surrey Police spokesman said: "We can't say for certain that it was overloaded but I think it's something the investigators will have to look into. There were 52 seats in total and the number we've got is 53 (people) which seems to suggest there were more (people than seats). There may be reasons behind that and other factors involved. The coach was returning to Merseyside following the festival on the Isle of Wight and was operated by bus company MerseyPride. Its driver was named as Colin Daulby, from Warrington, who was in his early 60s. Mike Dower, the manager of the coach company, said: "Colin was a personal friend and a brilliant driver who was very conscientious. He'd only been with us for a few months but was very experienced and he had a great rapport with everyone. The news is very upsetting and we wish to offer our condolences to his family and the other families affected. This is the first time this kind of thing has happened in the company. Mr Dower said he doubted whether driver error or tiredness could have caused the crash and added that Mr Dower and had had a "good rest" after staying with his sister in Portsmouth. The coach had been privately hired by a group of 50 people and was due to return to Liverpool in the early hours of Tuesday, he said. Some passengers lost limbs after it hit a tree on an embankment. The bodies of the three who died remained trapped inside the wreckage today, as collision investigators tried to establish what caused the tragedy. The crash was not thought to have involved any other vehicles. One passenger was airlifted to Southampton General Hospital with serious injuries, police said, while 50 others were taken to six hospitals across the region. Surrey Police were working with Merseyside Police and the coach company to identify the passengers, all of whom were believed to be from the Merseyside area, and notify relatives. Assistant Chief Constable Jerry Kirkby of Surrey Police said: "Our thoughts remain with the relatives of the dead and the injured at this time and we are working very hard to notify their next of kin." The road was expected to remain closed for several hours and diversions were put in place. Motorists were asked to avoid the area until the road reopened. Inspector Richard Mallett, speaking to Sky News at the scene, said: "We are dealing with a major incident, a tragic major incident. The coach has gone off the road and had a significant impact with a tree. The bodies are still trapped inside the vehicle. As you can imagine, it is a very delicate operation to remove them. With all due respect to them, we need to get them out properly. We are confident that there is no-one left in the vehicle alive. It is a body recovery operation at this point here. Speaking of the wounded, he added: "Some have suffered significant and life-changing injuries." The casualties were taken to the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford, St Peter's Hospital in Chertsey, St George's Hospital in Tooting, King's College Hospital in London, Frimley Park Hospital and Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth. The walking wounded were taken to St Peter's Hospital in Chertsey, where 23 were treated. The majority have now been discharged, a spokeswoman for the hospital said. The organisers of Bestival are liaising with police over the incident. Organisers wrote on the festival's Facebook page: "Devastating news re coach crash, our thoughts are with the relatives of those affected by this tragic incident. We are currently liaising with Surrey Police to establish the facts. Festival-goers expressed their shock and offered condolences on the site. Rose Wormald wrote: "What a terrible way for a fantastic weekend to end. Prayers to all involved. Stevie Rutter added: "Very sad news. Thoughts are with friends and family. I am sure every single person who attended Bestival send condolances - vigil next year.