At least 17 people including a bus driver have been injured after a bus mounted the pavement near London Victoria station on Thursday morning.
Emergency services were called to Victoria Street at around 8.20am following reports of a collision involving the vehicle and multiple pedestrians.
The Met Police has confirmed two people were treated at the scene, while 15 other pedestrians and passengers were taken to hospital.
Maintenance workers who were standing just metres from where the bus crashed have described how they saw passengers covered in blood and people fainting on the floor covered in glass in the aftermath of the crash.
The force confirmed no arrests have been made and that no one has been left with life-threatening injuries.
An investigation has been launched into the collision.
This is a breaking news story. Check the latest updates below.
Key Points
- Police confirm that at least 17 people have been injured after a bus mounted the pavement on Victoria Street
- Two pedestrians have been killed in recent years in bus crashes near Victoria Station
- Smoking ban put in place near crashed 24 bus due to worries about diesel spill
- Eyewitnesses describe see passengers fainting and covered in blood in the aftermath of the crash
Victoria Station bus crash reignites safety fears after years of tragedy
16:11 , Sami QuadriVictoria Station has once again been the scene of a serious bus crash, reviving concerns about safety in one of London’s busiest transport hubs.
On Thursday morning, a Route 24 double-decker bus left the roadway and mounted the pavement outside the station, injuring 17 people. Fifteen were taken to hospital, including the driver, though thankfully none were left with life-threatening injuries.
This is not the first time tragedy has struck in the area. In January 2024, 56-year-old Catherine Finnegan was killed by a double-decker at Victoria. Just two years earlier, in August 2021, 32-year-old Melissa Burr died after being struck when a bus accidentally accelerated into another vehicle at the station.
In both cases, safety campaigners questioned whether more could have been done to protect pedestrians in such a crowded and complex interchange. Transport for London carried out safety improvements in late 2023 following public criticism, introducing measures intended to make crossings clearer and reduce the risk of further collisions.
Yet despite these changes, serious incidents have continued to occur. Campaigners argue that high pedestrian volumes, the pressure on drivers to keep to timetables, and the layout of the bus station itself combine to create conditions where accidents are more likely.
Recap: Witness describes seeing 'blood all over the place'
15:09 , Jacob PhillipsAn eyewitness who rushed to the scene of the bus crash described seeing around seven people injured.
Mohammed Ali immediately called the emergency services.
The 40-year-old, who works as a public safety officer at Victoria station, said: “There was blood all over the place and passengers lying on the floor.”
Woman 'completely collapsed' after crash, says eye witness
14:07 , Jacob PhillipsAn eyewitness has described how a woman “completely collapsed” and had to be carried away during the crash on Thursday morning.
Nathan Cefai told the BBC: “She was in a state of shock with her nose bleeding, she was completely out of it.
“Another man and woman had blood all over their faces. Luckily, there was a civilian doctor there who was extremely helpful.
“The driver used my water bottle to get the blood off his face. He was mainly concerned with the passengers and seemed as shocked as everyone else.”
Mr Cefai described how the driver had seemed panicked following the collision.
'Number of resources' sent to the scene, LAS say
13:40 , Jacob PhillipsLondon Ambulance Service sent a “number of resources” to the scene earlier today, including an incident response officer and London Air Ambulance.
A spokesperson said: “We were called at 8.20am today (4 September) to reports of a road traffic collision on Victoria Street, Westminster.
“We sent a number of resources to the scene, including ambulance crews, advanced paramedics, a paramedic in a fast response car, a clinical team manager, an incident response officer, a command support vehicle and paramedics from our hazardous area response team. We also dispatched London’s Air Ambulance.
“We treated 17 people in total. We took 15 patients to hospital and discharged two patients at the scene.”
Police appeal for dashcam and phone footage as roads to remain closed
12:46 , Megan HoweRoads will remain closed as Met Police continue to investigate at the scene of the crash.
Detective Chief Superintendent Christina Jessah said: “We understand this incident will have been very distressing to all those involved and injured and we have begun an investigation.
“We are appealing for any witnesses or anyone with information to please contact us. We welcome any dash cam or mobile phone footage.
“We are working closely with our partners to clear the scene but the road will remain closed for the next few hours so please seek alternative routes.”
Anyone with information that could assist police is asked to call 101 quoting CAD 1605/4Sept.
At least 17 people injured in bus crash, police confirm
12:04 , Jacob PhillipsAt least 17 people have been injured in a bus crash near Victoria Station.
Two people were treated at the scene while 15 were taken to and remain in hospital.
The driver of the bus was one of the people taken to hospital.
The Met Police has confirmed there were no life-threatening injuries and there have been no arrests.
Issuing an appeal for witnesses, Detective Chief Superintendent Christina Jessah, who leads policing in the area, said: “We understand this incident will have been very distressing to all those involved and injured and we have begun an investigation.
“We are appealing for any witnesses or anyone with information to please contact us. We welcome any dash cam or mobile phone footage.
“We are working closely with our partners to clear the scene but the road will remain closed for the next few hours so please seek alternative routes.”
Anyone with information that could assist police is asked to call 101 quoting CAD 1605/4Sept.
Roads remain closed following crash
11:53 , Jacob PhillipsWestminster City Council has warned that roads remain closed around the bus crash.
The council posted on X: “We’re aware of the incident on Victoria Street.
“Emergency services are on scene and managing the situation. Some local roads are currently closed, so please avoid the area if possible.”
Maintenance workers saved by a bollard as bus crashed
11:33 , Jacob PhillipsThree maintenance workers who witnessed the aftermath of the bus crash have described how it was a miracle that no one was killed.
Sam Genders, Dave Shorter, and Mirak Kolodziej told LBC that they heard a “massive explosion” behind them before the area descended into chaos.
Mr Genders told the broadcaster: "The driver was crawling out the front of the bus covered in blood.
"We helped him out and dragged him over to the side. He was screaming, he was saying 'this F-ing bus, this F-ing bus'. And then he was asking if the passengers were OK.”
The worker said he then saw other passengers covered in blood and people fainting on the floor covered in glass.
Mr Kolodziej had been just metres away from the crash and was hit by some of the dirt from the vehicle.
He added: “I just saw the bus driver crying out. I just ran to him, ask him if he was okay and then he just started saying ‘there's something wrong with that bus’. And then he just asked us to check the passengers.
"So we just ran around, opened the door and tried to get people out, everyone who we could. Without the bollards, it would have run over us."
Mr Shorter added: "[It's a] miracle no one was killed. It's not every day a bus smashes three metres away from you and the driver's on the floor."
TfL urgently investigating bus crash
11:12 , Jacob PhillipsTransport for London (TfL) has said it is urgently investigating the bus crash near Victoria Station.
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.
“We are working with the police and the operator, Transport UK, to urgently investigate this incident.
“This must have been a distressing incident for everyone involved and we have support available for anyone affected.”
Latest figures show 69 people killed or seriously injured in London bus crashes in recent months
11:01 , Jacob PhillipsThe latest figures from Transport for London (TfL) show there were 69 people killed or seriously injured in collisions involving a London bus between April and June.
Twenty people died in collision with, or on board, a London bus last year, according to TfL
This included 10 pedestrians, two cyclists and eight passengers. This compares with 17 bus-related fatalities in 2023, of which seven were pedestrians, and marks a 17% year-on-year increase.
The latest bus crash comes after victims of previous collisions accused TfL and Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan of not doing enough to ensure passenger safety.
Campaigners have claimed that London has a worse record on bus safety than cities such as New York, Paris and Montreal.
TfL has said it is committed to learning from every incident and it uses data and incident reports to put in changes that make London safer for everyone.
Two pedestrians killed in bus crashes near Victoria Station in recent years
10:46 , Jacob PhillipsTwo pedestrians have been killed in bus crashes near Victoria Station in recent years.
One of the victims was Catherine Finnegan, who was hit by a bus near Victoria station in January 2024.
Following her death, her family described her as a “whirlwind in any room” who “lit up this world with her energy, enthusiasm for life and joy”.
In August 2021, Melissa Burr, 32, from Rainham, Kent, was also killed near Victoria station after bus driver Olusofa Popoola accidentally accelerated into the back of a stationary bus, shunting it into her.
Transport for London was forced to issue a humbling apology to Ms Burr’s family after it wrongly suggested she may have been at fault for her death in a bus crash.
Air ambulance sent to the scene
10:38 , Jacob PhillipsThe London Ambulance Service has confirmed that a helicopter was sent to the scene as well as a number of emergency vehicles.
Paramedics rushed to the scene at 8.20am on Thursday during the busy rush hour period.
A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called at 8.20am today to reports of a road traffic collision on Victoria Street, Westminster.
“We have sent resources to the scene, including ambulance crews, advanced paramedics, a paramedic in a fast response car, a clinical team manager, an incident response officer and a command support vehicle. We’ve also dispatched London’s Air Ambulance.
“The incident is ongoing and we are working with our emergency services partners.”
Police ban smoking near crash due to trail of diesel
10:34 , Jacob PhillipsA trail of diesel running down Allington Street has forced police to ban smoking in the area over fears of an incident.
A number of emergency vehicles can be seen at the scene on Victoria Road including police cars, ambulances and a fire engine.
The road has been closed and all vehicles are being diverted from the area.
Eyewitnesses heard massive crash and people screaming during bus collision
10:31 , Jacob PhillipsEyewitnesses have described hearing a massive crash and hearing people screaming during the collision in central London.
Emit Suker, 47, described how the bus had been going really fast and came off the road. He explained that the bus had been travelling from Westminster and that around 15 or 16 people had been inside the bus.
He told the PA news agency: “People were screaming - it was terrible.”
Meanwhile, another eyewitness said: “I heard a massive crash – came outside and there was a woman on the floor with loads of people around her.
“Lots of people from the gym had run out to help her.”
At least 14 people injured in bus crash
10:28 , Jacob PhillipsA bus has mounted the pavement and crashed near Victoria Station injuring pedestrians and passengers.
The driver of a 24 bus and several others have been injured in the crash on Victoria Street.
The Met Police said there were no fatalities, but a Transport for London source said initial reports suggest at least 14 people may have been injured.
That number is subject to change.
The Met Police also confirmed no arrests have been made and an investigation has been launched into the collision.
