Witnesses raced to help woman in her 30s who was killed as two buses crashed into pedestrians
Tragedy on morning rush hour commute as woman in her 30s is killed and three people are injured as two buses collide then smash into pedestrians at Victoria Station in London
- Pictures show two crashed buses by Victoria, one of which is the 507 to Waterloo
- It is believed one bus crashed into another before ploughing into commuters
- The incident happened at 8.25am during the morning rush hour in London
- One pedestrian was pronounced dead at 9am, two others were hospitalised
A woman in her 30s has died and two people were hospitalised after a crash involving two buses outside Victoria Railway Station.
Pictures show two crashed buses by the London station, one of which is the 507 to Waterloo. The incident happened at 8.25am during the morning rush hour.
One of the pedestrians was pronounced dead at 9am, and two others have been treated for ‘non-life threatening injuries’ in hospital. A fourth person was treated at the scene but not hospitalised.
One witness said there was a ‘loud bang’ as one bus ‘smashed into the back of the one in front’ as commuters panicked and offered to help.
Another said she ‘heard a bang’ and saw a woman with blonde hair and a dark floral skirt ‘underneath’ a 507 bus as people rushed to offer help.
A third witness said one bus slammed on its brakes as pedestrians crossed in front, then the bus behind smashed into the back, throwing it forward into the victims.
Images from the scene, just by the busy station’s coach depot, appear to show that the vehicles are still on the road, indicating they had not careered off into the pavement.
Following reports of the crash, commuters said that the crossing had been ‘a nightmare for years’ with ‘buses rushing in and out’, and the area ‘needs desperate improvement now’.
The London Underground’s Circle and District lines have also suspended sections of their routes this week, causing further chaos for those having the find alternate routes while commuting across London.
One of the pedestrians was pronounced dead at 9am, and two others have been treated for ‘non-life threatening injuries’ in hospital
Pictures show two crashed buses by the London station, one of which is the 507 to Waterloo. The incident happened at 8.25am during the morning rush hour
A woman in her 30s has died and two people were hospitalised after a crash involving two buses outside Victoria Railway Station
A witness, Big Issue seller Jacob Davidson, 36, said: ‘I didn’t think much of it until two cab drivers stepped out of their cabs, jumped over the railing and started looking under the bus.
‘There was a sound of panic… people shouting ”can we get help?”… thank God there were pedestrians there to help.’
Mr Davidson said commuters rushed to the railing to see what was happening.
He added: ‘There was a woman laying outside the bus driver’s door being helped by two or three people.
‘The I looked under the front of the bus and there was another man stuck under the bus.’
Another witness, who wanted to remain anonymous, was travelling on another bus when she ‘heard a bang’ and saw a woman ‘underneath’ a 507 bus.
She said: ‘She had a dark floral skirt and blonde hair… There were a lot of people around her, one lady was holding her hand and a guy was trying to help.
‘I honestly hoped she would be okay.’
Police at the scene at Victoria bus station, central London, after a crash involving two buses in which a female pedestrian died
The scene at Victoria bus station, central London, after a crash involving two buses in which a female pedestrian
Fazian Raja, 27, from Ilford, east London, said: ‘I saw some people run across the road in front of the bus and that’s when I heard a very loud bang.
‘So I think he must have slammed on the brakes and the bus behind him went straight into him.
‘Some guy called the police and in five or 10 minutes they were here. I couldn’t see what was going on because I was too far away.’
The bus had to be hoisted off the ground by a fire engine to free the victim who was trapped underneath, shocked passers-by said.
Recovery trucks arrived just before 4pm to remove the buses, one of which has a shattered windscreen.
Georgiana Mate, 29, who works nearby, said: ‘I was having a cigarette outside and heard a loud bang. So I went over to the buses and I saw someone under the bus.
‘The police arrived about 10 minutes later, but I went back inside and started work.’
A Met Police spokesman told MailOnline: ‘Police were called at 08:25hrs on Tuesday, 10 August to reports of a collision involving two buses and three pedestrians outside Victoria Railway Station’
The incident happened at 8.25am during the morning rush hour
A member of staff at the Shakespeare Pub said: ‘We only heard the bang and I’ve never seen that many police cars and ambulances in my life. And there were two fire engines.
‘I heard one of the buses went into the back of the other, which then hit the woman.
‘That poor women has lost her life and she was only in her 30s.’
Police have now cordoned off the area around Terminus Place.
Andy Byford, Transport for London’s Commissioner, said: ‘We are extremely saddened that a woman has tragically died after a collision with a bus and our thoughts are with her family and friends.
‘We are thinking of everyone affected by this incident and will support everyone however we can. We are working urgently with the operator of the two buses, Go Ahead London, and the police to investigate what happened.’
Met Police said in a statement: ‘Officers from the Met’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit are appealing for witnesses and footage following a fatal collision outside Victoria Railway Station.
‘Police were called at 08:25hrs on Tuesday, 10 August to reports of a collision involving two buses and three pedestrians outside Victoria Railway Station.
‘Emergency services attended and immediately provided first aid.
‘A female pedestrian, believed to be aged in her 30s, was pronounced dead at the scene at 09:00hrs. Her next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers.
‘Two other people were treated for non-life threatening injuries.
‘All parties remained at the scene. There have been no arrests.
‘Terminus Place is currently closed to buses.
Police at the scene at Victoria bus station, central London, after a crash involving two buses in which a female pedestrian was killed
The scene at Victoria bus station, central London, after a crash involving two buses in which a female pedestrian was killed
‘Anyone with information should call the Serious Collision Investigation Unit witness lines on 0208 543 5157, call 101 or tweet @MetCC quoting 1450/10AUG. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.’
A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: ‘We were called at 8.25am today (10 August) to reports of a road traffic collision at Victoria Bus Station.
‘We sent three ambulance crews, two medics in cars, an advanced paramedic, an incident response officer, an advanced paramedic, and our hazardous area response team. We also dispatched London’s Air Ambulance.
‘We treated three people at the scene, and took two of them to hospital. Sadly, a fourth person died at the scene.’
