Tuesday, March 19, 2024
NewsRush hour bus demolishes city centre bus stop

Rush hour bus demolishes city centre bus stop

A BUS demolished a city centre bus stop last night, causing rush hour chaos.

The single-decker bus smashed into the stop on Bonnington Road, Edinburgh at around
5.30pm yesterday evening as commuters queued to go home after work.

The number 36 Lothian Bus was on it’s way to the city’s shopping centre, Ocean Terminal, when the crash took place.

Despite occurring at one of the busiest times for bus passengers, nobody is thought to have been injured in the incident.

 

The smash completely destroyed the bus stop
The smash completely destroyed the bus stop

 

The impact has completely destroyed the bus stop, with pictures showing the mangled wreck left behind.

The bus stop’s roof has been completely torn off along with the glass behind the shelter’s seats which appears to have been shattered.

The roof has been left on its side, with its glass cracked, and is propped up by the wall of a nearby newsagent, completely blocking the pavement.

Shards of glass can be seen scattered over the surrounding area and a side of the stop has been bent over and twisted.

 

The smash took place yesterday evening as commuters started on their evening commute
The smash took place yesterday evening as commuters started on their evening commute

 

The area has since been cordoned off with temporary fencing and red tape.

Javed Iqbal, who works in the newsagent behind the bus stop, was alerted to the smash when he heard a “loud bang” from outside.

He said: “The bus must have come in and hit the stop when I was standing behind the counter because I heard a really loud bang.

“A customer was just coming into the shop when the bus hit.

“I rushed out to see what had happened. I think the driver just got too close to the kerb when he was coming in to stop and let people on because the front of the buses stretch out quite far and this is a busy road.

“I don’t think anybody was hurt thankfully.”

 

The mangled wreckage of the bus stop the following morning
The mangled wreckage of the bus stop the following morning

 

A spokeswoman for Lothian Buses said: “We can confirm that one of our vehicles was involved in an incident yesterday evening.

“An investigation is currently underway in line with company procedures to determine the circumstances and cause.”

The crash comes just days after a new 20 miles per hour speed limit was introduced around the city centre.

In April this year, a bus crash on one of the city’s busiest roads caused major rush-hour traffic congestion.

It is thought hydraulic fluid caused the bus to slip and crash into railings on Queensferry Road.

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