Seventeen people were injured when a double-decker bus smashed into a railway bridge in Rochdale, shearing its roof off.
Eyewitnesses said they heard “a loud bang” at about 12.20pm before seeing smoke billowing from the bus which had gone “off-route” in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. The First bus, which was carrying 25 people, had attempted to pass along Milkstone Road when it hit the structure near Rochdale railway station.
Passengers were left in shock after the impact ripped the bus roof off completely. One was seriously injured with a broken jaw in the crash, but none of those injured were trapped in the wreckage.
North West ambulance service sent 16 units, including ambulances and four hazardous area response teams (HARTs), to tend to the wounded. A witness described how some victims were bleeding and one had to be placed in an oxygen mask. Many more were said to be in shock. Eleven people were taken to Rochdale Infirmary and Royal Oldham Hospital by ambulances, with a 12th injured person making their own way to hospital.
A spokesman for First said said: “The incident occurred off-route and at this point is part of our investigation. The driver is OK but is shocked. We are making sure she is being looked after and as part of our investigations we will be speaking to the driver again.”
Pictures of the scene showed the bus’s roof lying on the road behind the vehicle, buckled and twisted but intact. Its sudden removal had apparently allowed the bus to continue travelling even further beneath the low bridge.
UPDATE re Rochdale RTC. 17 injured, 1 seriously with a broken jaw. Bridge checked , Trains running normally. pic.twitter.com/CT6bL10xRx
— GMP Traffic (@gmptraffic) September 9, 2015
Some more images from the scene... pic.twitter.com/rBfEggEldf
— GMP Traffic (@gmptraffic) September 9, 2015
Trains from nearby Rochdale railway station were allowed to continue crossing the bridge after engineers checked the structure and confirmed it was safe.
Paul Shah, who witnessed the crash and rushed to help those hurt, told the Manchester Evening News: “The roof just came off, it came straight off and there was a massive mess. It was on the floor and I went over and helped injured people.”
He said he thought there were as many as 60 people riding the bus, 10 of whom looked badly hurt, adding: “It was awful to see them coming off with injuries, it looked like cuts from broken glass and people banging their faces against the seats.”
Not everyday you're on a bus that cashes into a bridge, scariest moment of my life pic.twitter.com/3VNkhoA74t
— ❁daisy❁ (@daismurphy) September 9, 2015
#Rochdale Examiners have been on site and inspected the bridge. Lines are now open. @nationalrailenq
— Network Rail (@networkrail) September 9, 2015
Businessman Mohammed Yousaf, 47, who owns a shop on the road, said he had been watching his CCTV when he saw the drama unfold and cars begin to back up.
He added: “They have had a lucky escape in that no one was killed. It would have been the worst thing I had ever seen, it was unbelievable. Luckily, they all escaped.”
Greater Manchester police said there were about 25 passengers on the bus at the time of the crash. Insp Stephen Clarke from the force’s Rochdale division said: “Clearly, there are lots of people in shock but luckily no one was trapped on the bus. Our investigation into the cause of the collision is ongoing and we would encourage anyone with any information to get in touch.”
The scene was cleared about three hours after the incident and the road was re-opened.
