Woman passenger dies after bus forced to brake suddenly

An elderly woman has died after suffering a head injury when a bus was forced to brake suddenly.

The incident happened on a bus in St Helens at around 1.10pm on Saturday.

A white van suddenly stopped in front of the 89 Arriva bus on Borough Road, causing the bus driver to slam on the brakes suddenly.

The incident is thought have to also involved a white van, which did not stop at the scene of the crash (Geoff Davies)

The van driver did not stop at the scene, but has now been traced, according to police.

The woman sustained a head injury and was taken to hospital in a critical condition.

The ECHO understands passengers on the bus administered first aid to the woman before paramedics arrived at the scene.

Police today confirmed the woman had sadly passed away and her next of kin had been informed.

The scene of the bus crash which left an elderly woman in a critical condition. Borough Road, St Helens Photograph Geoff Davies (Geoff Davies)

The driver of the van has now also been traced.

In a statement a spokesperson said: "The female passenger has sadly passed away. Her next-of-kin have been informed.

"The driver of the van has now been traced and enquiries are ongoing.

"Anyone who saw the incident is asked to DM @MerPolCC, call 101 or the Roads Policing Unit on 0151 777 5747 quoting log 438 of 22 February."