A woman was left fighting for her life after a horror bus crash in Manchester which saw the vehicle mount the pavement and smash into a bubble tea shop.
Crowds swarmed around the dreadful scene after the bus smashed into the shopfront of T4 in City Tower, near Piccadilly Gardens. Police sealed off the area around the Diamond bus emergency crews assisted casualties.
Ten people were rushed to hospital. The woman fighting for her life and nine others taken for treatment.
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The bus driver, a 64-year-old man, was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. Aghast onlookers said it was ‘one of the most horrible scenes I’ve witnessed’.
The bus was described as ‘uncontrollably flying’ onto the pavement by one started onlooker. “Then it crashed into the shop with the glass shattering everywhere,” he told Manchester Evening News. “It looked like people were hurt. It was horrendous, I’ve never seen anything like it. People came running over from streets away the collision was that loud.”
(Image: Gary Oakley/Manchester Evening News)
North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) confirmed one person had been ‘seriously injured’ with nine others rushed to hospital following the crash.
Another man, who said he came out of Greggs just after the collision, said there was ‘shattered glass everywhere’. He said the pavement had been busy with people queueing for Greggs during their lunch break.
In a statement, Ian Wood at T4 UK Franchise Ltd said all staff in the store were ‘okay’ but ‘shaken up’ and wished those involved in the crash a ‘speedy recovery’. He added the store would remain closed until further notice.
A woman who was in Piccadilly Gardens said the crash was ‘sudden’. “I had seen the driver quickly turning right, then I had heard the crash suddenly and people started to rush over,” she said.
“I could see people trying to help and the police arrived very quickly after and started to get all pedestrians away.
(Image: PA)
Crowds gathered to watch the scene for much of the afternoon as emergency services worked to help those involved and investigate the crash. Mnay pulled out phones to take photos or call relatives in shock.
In a statement, Greater Manchester Police said: “At around 1pm today (Monday 16 October 2023), officers responded to reports of a road traffic collision involving a bus which collided with a shop in Piccadilly Gardens.
“Emergency services attended the scene, and it has been established that 12 people have been injured as a result with one woman in a life-threatening condition and is receiving treatment at hospital. Others involved are believed to be in a stable condition with minor injuries.
“The driver, a 64-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. Greater Manchester Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit are continuing to investigate and are appealing for witnesses.
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“Anyone with information that may help with enquiries, including footage filmed, is asked to call 0161 856 474 quoting incident 1673 of 16/10/2023.”
A spokesperson for NWAS said: “At around 13.15 this afternoon, we responded to a bus crash near Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester.
“Four ambulances, two senior paramedics, a cycle responder, an operational commander and the Hazardous Area Response Team responded to the scene after it was reported the vehicle had driven into a building.
“One patient with serious injuries was quickly conveyed to hospital. Ten others were assessed, with nine taken to hospital. We wish all those involved a full and swift recovery.”
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