WARNING DISTRESSING CONTENT: Doorbell footage shows the moment the number 100 bus had its roof ripped off in Eccles, Greater Manchester, after it took the wrong route and went under a low bridge
This is the moment a bus full of passengers had its roof sliced completely off after taking the wrong route and going under a bridge as 15 people were rushed to hospital.
Terrifying footage shows the double decker emerging from under the bridge in Eccles, Greater Manchester, yesterday afternoon without its roof and people were seen ducking down in their seats. A total of 15 people were taken to hospital after emergency services were called to Barton Lane shortly after 3pm on Monday. One person is understood to remain in a critical condition following the crash, with two others seriously injured. The road remained closed while emergency services, including the air ambulance, attended the scene.
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) said it had launched an investigation into the incident and it confirmed the bus, running on the number 100 service, was not on its standard route when the incident took place.
A TfGM spokesperson said: “We can confirm the bus was not on its usual route at the time of the collision on Barton Lane. The circumstances of the bus being off route are being formally investigated.”
A witness has told of seeing ambulances arrive and the bus roof on the floor. “I just heard the sirens from the ambulances. Then when three came I knew something serious was going on,” they said. “I saw a woman waving paramedics to the scene. I came out and I could see the bus roof on the floor.
“There was a person on the floor next to it and they were being treated. Then all the other emergency services started arriving. Fire engines, unmarked police cars.
“There were two air ambulances that came. I’m not sure where they landed. I felt a bit sick. I knew people were injured but I was just praying it wasn’t serious. But you’d imagine there would be a fair few people on the bus at that time.”
A North West Ambulance Service spokesperson added: “At 15.06 North West Ambulance Service received a call in relation to a bus collision on Barton Lane, Eccles, and declared a major incident shortly afterwards.
“The trust dispatched a number of resources, including ten emergency ambulances, advanced paramedics, our Hazard Area Response Team (HART) and colleagues from North West Air Ambulance. The first resource arrived on time at 15.10. NWAS treated 15 patients who were all taken to Salford Royal or Manchester Royal Infirmary hospitals.”
Vernon Everitt, Transport Commissioner for Greater Manchester, said: “First and foremost, our thoughts are with everyone on board the bus. Our absolute focus has been on supporting emergency services in their response, with some people treated at the scene and some taken to hospital.
“An immediate and urgent investigation into the circumstances is underway and we are working closely with the investigation team at Greater Manchester Police and the bus operator, Stagecoach. This is clearly a distressing situation for everyone involved and we’d like to thank emergency services for their swift response.”