A woman has died and two others have been injured after a bus ploughed into a Halifax bank in the centre of Darlington, County Durham.
The driver of the Arriva bus was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving after the crash shortly before 11am on Thursday.
Ch Insp Graham Milne, of Durham police, said: “Obviously this is a tragic incident and I would like to extend my condolences to the deceased’s family. I would also ask anyone who was in the area at the time and witnessed the collision to contact us on 101.”
Witnesses said the “absolutely shocking” collision happened when the bus driver pulled out and careered into the Halifax building society on busy Northgate.
Police confirmed that an elderly female pedestrian died in the crash and that two others were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
One witness told the Northern Echo that they believed one person had died. “The No 2 bus was parked up on the side of the road and pulled out before going straight into the bank,” the witness said. “There was someone stuck under the wheel – I think two people were trapped, they’d just been walking along the road.
“I could see the person had passed away, they were not moving, and after a while they were covered up with a green blanket. It was absolutely shocking, I’m still shaking now – it just pulled out. That person was just out doing a bit of shopping and now they’re dead.
“I don’t know if anyone in the bank was hurt, most of them were out and were taken into Boots. Everyone on the bus is giving statements. It was so horrible.
“The driver was sitting close by and has been talking to the police. My son and I were so lucky, we were using the cash machine just seconds before, but I’d forgotten my card, so left. If I hadn’t left it at home, I’d still have been there when it happened.”
Paul Frazer, who was on the bus when the accident happened, said the driver told passengers that he was going to move the vehicle forward slightly – but pulled out at what felt like 50mph.
He said: “As I went to sit down I just saw this old lady and he just … as if he was just 50mph straight into Halifax. It was a bit of a scary shock.
“It looked like someone tumbled over and I got told someone was actually underneath … we were all shaken. There was this old lady, I thought she was going to have a heart attack.”
A spokeswoman for the North East ambulance service said paramedics were at the scene. “We have sent the air ambulance, three double-crewed ambulances, hazardous area rapid response team and an officer,” she said. “We have reports of three injured, one seriously. Two patients have left for hospital.”
Police, fire and ambulance services closed the road from the A167 Northgate junction to the Crown Street junction while they dealt with the accident.
In a statement, bus firm Arriva said: “An investigation has been launched and we are cooperating fully with the emergency services and the police, who are leading the investigation.
“Our thoughts are with the families of those involved. We know there will be people concerned about family or friends, and to support them we have set up a dedicated emergency telephone number, which is 0191 520 4165.”
