Seventeen people have been injured after a double-decker bus mounted the pavement during rush hour outside London Victoria Station, sparking a major emergency response.
The collision happened on Victoria Street, Westminster, shortly after 8.20am this morning. Police, paramedics, firefighters, and London's Air Ambulance all rushed to the scene.
Bus driver and pedestrians among the injured
Authorities confirmed that 15 people, including the bus driver, passengers, and pedestrians, were taken to hospital, while two others were treated at the scene.
Thankfully, no fatalities or life-threatening injuries have been reported, though witnesses described the aftermath as "chaotic" with people screaming and several lying on the ground.
Front of bus destroyed in impact
Photos from the scene show the front end of the bus mangled and destroyed by the force of the collision. A trail of diesel spilled along Allington Street, forcing police to ban smoking in the area over safety fears.
Victoria Street remains closed between Wilton Road and Buckingham Palace Road as crash investigators examine the scene.
Police appeal for witnesses
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."
Ambulance and TfL statements
A spokesperson for the %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_0%% Ambulance Service said:
"We treated 17 people in total. We took 15 patients to hospital and discharged two patients at the scene. We sent multiple crews, advanced paramedics, incident response officers, and also dispatched London's Air Ambulance."
Rosie Trew, head of bus service delivery at Transport for London (%%UKNIP_ANCHOR_1%%), added:
"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 to urgently investigate this incident. Support is available for those affected."
No arrests have been made, and enquiries are ongoing.
