Man says he was ‘inches from death’ after London Victoria Station bus crash

Witnesses have described how a double-decker bus careered into a pedestrian street and missed them by just inches near London’s Victoria station.

The number 24 bus ploughed into bollards on Allington Street, which should be accessible only to cycles and pedestrians, shortly after 8.20am earlier today.

The Metropolitan Police has said a total of 17 people, including pedestrians and passengers on the bus, are understood to have been injured.

Two people were treated at the scene while 15 were taken to and remain in hospital. This includes the driver of the bus. 

Their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. No arrests have been made.

Sam Genders, 30, from Canary Wharf, was up a ladder fixing a canopy on a shop when he heard a massive bang and looked round to see the wreckage of the bus just inches from him. 

He described seeing the bloodied driver emerge from the wreckage while passengers lay injured in a scene of ‘carnage’. 

He told Metro: ‘There was like a massive explosion behind me. I looked and there was a bus inches from my ladder. It had hit some bollards, they saved my life. 

‘They slowed three bus it would have taken me out and killed me otherwise. The front of the bus was wrecked. The driver climbed out of the front window he was in a bad way. He was covered in blood. He was screaming ‘this effing bus’ and asked us to check on his passengers. 

‘We forced the bus doors open and it was like a scene from hell, it was a nightmare. There was smoke and fumes and people laying in agony.

‘One young woman as covered in blood she looked badly injured. There were about 25 people on the bus. We got them off. Me and the guys with me just clicked into gear and knew we had to help. We were closest to it.’ 

He said the driver was apparently indicating that the bus had failed in some way and brake fluid could be seen pouring across the road. 

Sam added: ‘I called my girlfriend and mum to say I’m ok I was very shaken up, it was terrifying. I’m lucky to still be here.’

Another witness said: ‘The driver was in total shock but he was very worried about his passengers even though he was in agony.’

Emit Suker, 47, said he saw the double-decker bus coming from Westminster ‘going really fast and [it] came off the road.’

‘There were about 15, 16 people inside the bus. People were screaming – it was terrible.’

Smoking has been temporarily banned in the area after diesel fuel spilt on the road, raising fears it could cause a fire.

Accident investigators are on the scene and collecting CCTV images to piece together what happened moments before the impact. 

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Traffic diversions remain around Victoria. 

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.’

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.’

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