Fifteen people were taken to hospital on Thursday morning after a No 24 bus crashed into barriers near Victoria station during the rush hour.
The collision happened just after 8:20 a.m. on Allington Street. Witnesses said the double-decker appeared to lose control and ploughed into a pedestrian zone, smashing through glass panels and scattering passengers and bystanders.
Emergency services, including an air ambulance, multiple paramedic teams and firefighters, responded quickly. The London Ambulance Service confirmed that 17 people were treated at the scene, with two discharged and 15 transported to hospital. No fatalities were reported.
Witnesses Describe “Horrible” Scenes
Sam Genders, a maintenance worker nearby, said the crash unfolded directly in front of him. “The bus driver crawled out the front covered in blood. All the glass was smashed. A lot of the passengers were injured. We were trying to help everyone out and get them off the bus. It was horrible, horrible scenes,” he told reporters.
His colleague Dave Short said the crash could have been far worse if not for the barriers. “We were lucky. Lucky [also] that no one was crushed underneath it,” he said.
Mohammed Ali, a public safety officer at Victoria station, said he saw several passengers injured and lying on the ground. “There was blood all over the place and passengers lying on the floor,” he said, adding that the bus seemed to have gone straight into the pedestrian zone instead of turning right.
Large Emergency Response
Pictures from the scene showed a large cordoned-off area with crowds of commuters watching as emergency crews treated the injured. Police confirmed that part of Allington Street would remain closed for several hours.
A trail of leaking diesel fuel prompted officers to ban smoking in the immediate area over safety concerns. Firefighters were also on hand to deal with reports of smoke, thought to have been caused by a damaged battery.
Investigation Under Way
The Metropolitan Police said it had launched an investigation into the crash and appealed for witnesses to come forward.
One eyewitness, Emit Suker, told PA Media that the bus appeared to be travelling “really fast” before veering off the road. “There were about 15, 16 people inside the bus. People were screaming – it was terrible,” he said. Another described seeing a woman injured on the pavement with bystanders rushing to help.
TfL Response
Transport for London (TfL) said it was working with police and the bus operator, Transport UK, to determine what caused the crash. Rosie Trew, TfL’s head of bus service delivery, said: “Our thoughts are with the people who have been injured following a bus incident at Victoria Street. This must have been a distressing incident for everyone involved and we have support available for anyone affected.”
