Bus passengers dive to avoid decapitation

Published on January 2nd, 2009

Families told of their shock after a double-decker bus had its roof ripped off when it crashed into a low bridge.

The driver of the Stagecoach bus and two passengers were taken to hospital after the collision at the Metro Bridge in The Avenue, Wallsend.

The number 40 service, which was going from Newcastle to Wallsend, is understood to have taken a wrong turn and the 14ft-high vehicle hit the bridge. The structure has a sign saying the bridge is 12ft 3in high.

The spokesman said: “Six passengers were on the bus at the time. Three were seated towards the rear of the vehicle on the upper deck, most of which was sheered off as a result of the accident. Thankfully, we understand there were only minor injuries from flying glass to three passengers. The driver was also taken to hospital suffering from shock.”

Pretty scary. And the driver had to be moving right along to remove that much sheet metal and glass.

13 users responded in " Bus passengers dive to avoid decapitation "

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# 1 Glenn E. said, on January 2nd, 2009 at 2:22 am

Not exactly sure where this happened. Even the source article does say what country it is. “Newcastle” isn’t much of a clue. I’m betting the real reason for the accident was an under trained driver. Who was unfamiliar with operating such a tall bus. So he didn’t allow for the reduced roof clearance. The local government probably thought there were saving money, not retraining a standard bus drive, how to handle the double decker model.

# 2 Alan said, on January 2nd, 2009 at 3:00 am

Newcastle is actually quite a clue. You just have to know where to look. Such as, at a map of England.

# 3 scott said, on January 2nd, 2009 at 3:08 am

#1 check the link, its a .co.uk, give you a clue ?

# 4 tcc3 said, on January 2nd, 2009 at 5:23 am

And the right hand drive bus. =)

Ok, hes been properly chastised, lets leave him alone.

# 5 Bill the Traveler said, on January 2nd, 2009 at 5:58 am

There was a slogan of an American bus lines ” Travel Greyhound see the world”
That is if you get there

# 6 AdmFubar said, on January 2nd, 2009 at 8:20 am

wonders where the safest seat is on a double decker bus???

# 7 Paddy-O said, on January 2nd, 2009 at 8:24 am

I wonder if he was blindly following a GPS?

# 8 Digby said, on January 2nd, 2009 at 8:41 am

About five years ago, a converted bus (hippie bus) was driving through the Broadway Tunnel in SF. The bus had an upper level, and an open observation dome. There was plenty of room inside the tunnel as the happy woman rode through with her cute little head sticking out, enjoying the foul exhaust laden air. Unfortunately, at the East end of the tunnel, there is a boxy section which hangs down about six feet lower than the rest of the ceiling. It is tile lined, as is the rest of the tunnel, but on this day, some of those tiles cracked. Messy. I don’t think the rest of the Hippies in the bus had a good day, either.

# 9 deowll said, on January 2nd, 2009 at 9:28 am

The driver is lucky the passengers didn’t put him in a lot more than shock. If they hadn’t reacted fast he’d have killed them all.

# 10 springfield_tom said, on January 2nd, 2009 at 9:39 am

#7 I’m hoping GPS will mature to include locations of such things as bridge heights. You’d setup the GPS with your vehicle’s height and then be forewarned (audio) if approaching danger. Also I’d like to be notified of speed limit changes. Often I’m speeding because I miss the road signs.

# 11 Ron Larson said, on January 2nd, 2009 at 10:16 am

An instant convertible.

# 12 Improbus said, on January 2nd, 2009 at 12:01 pm

@10 – springfield tom

It would be easier and safer just to have the computers drive the car. That way the idiot human that is to stupid to read road signs won’t cause an accident.

# 13 hhopper said, on January 2nd, 2009 at 12:22 pm

The driver was just another ninety percenter.

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