The top of a double decker bus was nearly sliced straight off as its driver hurtled into a railway bridge in South London. Remarkably police say there were no reports of any serious injuries as the 197 bus smashed into the Norwood Junction bridge over Portland Road, in the South Norwood area of Croydon, on Saturday evening (December 14) just before 11pm.
Scotland Yard confirmed police and paramedics were called to the scene last night, but the force had made no arrests. Images posted on the South Norwood Net - Chat Group on Facebook showed police and firefighters at the scene, with more than half the bus's roof ripped off by the thick metal girders that hold up the tracks above.
Local residents said this was not the first time such an incident had occurred. Transport for London (TfL) and Go-Ahead London, the company that runs the 197 route, have both been approached for more information on how the crash happened.
Expressing concern, one local said: "They need to stop double deckers using this route! Is it until someone dies before they will do something?" Another said: "Oh Portland Road we have seen bad and fatal accidents and you keep it coming, When will it have an end? The road with the most incidents."
The roof of a double decker bus has been ripped off after crashing into a railway bridge. Photo released December 15 2024. The bus collided with a bridge in Portland Road in South Norwood, London last night (December 14). A video taken from inside the bus shows the extent of the damage with the roof destroyed and seats ripped out. There were no serious injuries and no arrests have been made.
The roof of a double decker bus has been ripped off after crashing into a railway bridge in Croydon (Image: Daniel Blundell / SWNS)
A Met spokesman said: "Police were called at approximately 22:55hrs on Saturday, 14 December to reports of a bus in collision with a railway bridge in Portland Road, SE25. Officers and London Ambulance Service attended. There were no reports of any serious injuries.
No arrests; enquiries into the circumstances continue."
Network Rail warns bridge strike incidents can cause death or serious injury to road and rail users and have a serious impact on the operation of the railway, and road traffic. Safety checks on bridges can also cause significant delays to both road and rail users.
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