Victoria Bus Station: Aftermath of bus crash that killed a pedestrian
A woman has died after being hit by a bus outside Victoria Bus Station in central London.
The pedestrian died shortly after the rush-hour crash at 8:59 a.m. GMT, and the bus driver was taken to hospital after witnesses saw him being cut from the vehicle.
Photos on social media showed a red double-decker bus crashing into a passenger shelter at Terminal Place.
The Metropolitan Police Department said, “We are currently working to provide information to the next of kin.”
Broken glass covered the ground after bus crashed into shelter
A large section of black tarpaulin was being used at the scene, and it appeared as if two buses had collided behind it, said a person at the scene.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the station would be closed “for the foreseeable future.”
He called the accident a “terrible tragedy” and added that an investigation was underway.
Lambeth Fire Brigade were sent to the scene.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with this pedestrian who passed away today,” Khan said.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said the force was working with British Transport Police.
The Metropolitan Transport Authority said: “Bus stops remain closed, but no other road closures are in place.”
image source, @roymundo on X/Twitter
The incident happened at Terminal Place, outside Victoria Bus Station.
The force added that the railway station was not affected.
London Ambulance Service, which sent an air ambulance to the scene, said a third person was also treated by paramedics, but had since been “tested and discharged”.
analysis
Tom Edwards, BBC London Transport Correspondent
What happened in this incident is currently the subject of a police investigation. We don’t know what happened, but we do know that Victoria is a very busy interchange and fatal accidents have occurred there before.
Thousands of passengers stream from subways and trains to bus stops outside.
In August 2021, commuter Melissa Barr was hit and killed by a bus, and two others were injured.
This latest fatal accident should once again raise questions about how safe Victoria Bus Station and its design are for commuters.
Transport for London (TfL) chief operating officer Glyn Barton said he was supporting the police investigation, along with bus operator RATP.
“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the person who tragically died in a collision with a bus in Victoria this morning.
“This would have been an extremely distressing event for everyone involved, but we are providing support to those affected.”
Operator RATP Dev Transit London confirmed it was investigating the fatal crash.
A spokesperson said: “Emergency services are on scene and our team will be working closely with the relevant authorities to assess the circumstances of the incident.”
“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the pedestrian who sadly passed away.”
Emergency services remain at the scene and investigations are ongoing.
Nicky Aiken, Conservative MP for London and Westminster, said on social media:[I am] We are extremely disappointed and concerned about the death of a pedestrian at Victoria Bus Stop earlier today.
“And following another horrific pedestrian fatality in 2021, work immediately began to make the area safer.”
Last November, the Terminal Place bus stop was closed for approximately six weeks for “significant works to improve pedestrian safety and accessibility.”
Work includes making some changes to the layout, changing road markings and adding Braille blocks.
TfL has set concrete targets for safe travel in London, saying it wants to see zero deaths on or on London’s buses by 2030.
London Fire Brigade said two fire engines from Lambeth Fire Station were called to the scene.
The brigade said its crews were still assisting police at the scene.
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