Several injured after bus hits pedestrians in Victoria Street, central London
A number of people have been taken to hospital after a bus struck pedestrians on a busy London street.
Several people, including the driver of the Route 24 bus, are understood to have been injured after the crash on Victoria Street, near Victoria Station, on Thursday morning.
No one is reported to have died, the Metropolitan Police said, and no arrests have been made.
An investigation has been launched, the force added.
A number of emergency vehicles, including police cars, ambulances and a fire engine, are on the scene.
The road remains closed, with all vehicles being diverted from the area, police said.
Emit Suker, 47, told PA news agency: “It (the bus) was coming from Westminster. There were about 15, 16 people inside the bus. People were screaming – it was terrible.”
Another eyewitness said: “I heard a massive crash – came outside and there was a woman on the floor with loads of people around her.
“Lots of people from the gym had run out to help her.”
A trail of diesel running down Allington Street has forced police to ban smoking in the area over fears of an incident.
A London Ambulance Service spokesperson confirmed it was called at 8.20am to reports of a road traffic collision.
They added: “We have sent resources to the scene, including ambulance crews, advanced paramedics, a paramedic in a fast response car, a clinical team manager, an incident response officer and a command support vehicle. We’ve also dispatched London’s Air Ambulance.
‘Distressing incident’
Rosie Trew, TfL’s head of bus service delivery, said: “Our thoughts are with the people who have been injured following a bus incident at Victoria Street.
Emergency services at the scene. Pic: PA
“We are working with the police and the operator, Transport UK, to urgently investigate this incident.
“This must have been a distressing incident for everyone involved and we have support available for anyone affected.”
Two pedestrians have been killed in bus crashes in Victoria in recent years.
Catherine Finnegan, 56, from County Galway, Ireland, died after she was hit by a double-decker bus at Victoria bus station in January last year.
In August 2021, Melissa Burr, 32, from Rainham, Kent, was killed at the station after bus driver Olusofa Popoola accidentally accelerated into the back of a stationary bus, shunting it into her.
