A double-decker bus crash in London caused shock and awe on the evening of Saturday, July 18, 2015, when the bus driver attempted to clear a bridge near the corner of Clifford Road and Portland Road in Norwood, in the south of London. The collision with the bridge caused the entire roof of the bus to be torn off by the bottom portion of the bridge. First responders arrived on scene shortly after the accident to treat seven injured parties. Of these, at least three people were transported to an area hospital for further evaluation and treatment. One woman was placed in a neck brace following complaints of spinal pain after the freakish accident.
Officials from Transport for London, the governmental agency that handles matters pertaining to London’s roadways, have stated that an investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing at this time. The bus was en route to Peckham at the time of the crash, and transport authorities have reported that crossing under the bridgeway was not a normal part of this particular bus’s route, stating that the bus may have been detoured for some reason at the time the accident took place.
Onlookers who witnessed the accident expressed amazement and bewilderment at the scene before them, wondering what the driver could have been thinking to drive under a bridge so obviously impassable to such a high-clearance vehicle. It is not yet known whether driver intoxication may have played a role in this crash. Although more than half a dozen people were injured in the accident, all of them are expected to recover following medical treatment.
The roads affected by the accident were closed for a time following the incident, with detours set up to get drivers safely to their destination as the clean-up effort ensued. Hazmat teams and police were on scene to safely clear away debris and initiate an investigation. It is not yet known whether charges may be filed as a result of the crash.