‘Numerous’ passengers have been left injured after a double-decker bus crashed into a bridge in Glasgow, as emergency service lock down the streets near the city’s O2 Academy.
The 4A First Bus crushed into the railway bridge on Cook Street at its junction with Commerce Street around 6.10pm on Saturday evening, with images from the scene appearing to show passengers trapped on board the bus.
One passenger, believed to have been sitting in the front seat, appeared to suffer serious injuries. It it thought other passengers had minor injuries.
Passengers could be seen giving each other first aid before ambulance services and police arrived on the scene, which is just yards from the M8.
It is understood that one person has been taken to hospital.
Scottish Fire and Rescue say they received a call about the crash just after 6pm on Saturday evening. They have now left the scene.
The streets around the area near to the O2 Academy have been cordoned off and the road locked down while emergency services work on the scene.
A spokesman for First Bus confirmed one of its buses on the 4Q route was ‘involved in a bridge strike incident’, and that an investigation has been launched.
‘We’re aware of numerous injuries, with one person being taken to hospital in an ambulance’, he said.
‘We have launched an immediate investigation and are also assisting Police Scotland with their inquiries. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this incident.’
One eyewitness who was on board the bus described the scene as ‘absolutely shocking’ adding that he feared for the life of one passenger, who was sat at the front of the bus.
Spike Turner, 26, from Victoria Road, Glasgow, said the victim was covered in blood and had a nasty gash to his head.
The sound engineer, who had been heading to the West End for a night out said: ‘I was sitting third in the bus and there was a lady in front of me who may have been concussed after the collision.
‘Parts of the bus interior was swinging down and I noticed the man at the front of the bus who was covered in blood and had a nasty gash to his head. I hope he is going to be okay.
‘I checked the people around me and they all seemed okay. I felt my face and had no blood or anything, so I’m okay’.
One person who was on board told the BBC the driver had crashed ‘straight into the bridge’ after taking a wrong turn down the one-way street.
ScotRail closed lines from Glasgow Central, with services between Ardrossan Harbour, Ayr, Largs, Gourock, Wemyss Bay and Paisley Canal and Glasgow Central cancelled, delayed or revised. They have since confirmed some lines are now running but that there are delays.
Ticket acceptance has since been arranged with bus company McGills on train services between Kilbarchan/Johnstone and Glasgow, Nethercraigs and Glasgow via Renfrew and Govan, and Paisley and Glasgow via Partick.
Police Scotland have confirmed they are at the scene, saying in a statement: ‘A number of roads in Glasgow are closed following a report of a bus crashing into a bridge on Cook Street around 5.55pm on Saturday, 14 December.
‘Cook Street is closed at Centre Street, Commerce Street is closed until Wallace Street and Salkeld Street is closed to Cook street.
‘Emergency services are in attendance and drivers are asked to avoid the area’.
People have been advised to avoid the area.
Last year, twelve people were sent to hospital after another double decker bus crashed into the same bridge.
The casualties were taken to three different hospitals, while others were treated at the scene. It is understood there were no life-threatening injuries.
The crash, which happened in May 2023, also involved a First Bus vehicle.