Double decker bus roof torn off in Kilmarnock bridge crash
Eight people were taken to hospital after a double-decker bus crashed into a railway bridge in Kilmarnock, ripping off its roof.
Emergency services received a call about a crash on Macphail Drive, near Culzean Crescent, Kilmarnock, at around 14:00 and police cordoned off the area.
Video from the scene posted on social media showed people standing on top of roofless buses near a bridge marked with vehicles below a certain height.
Just days ago, another double-decker bus crashed into a railway bridge in Glasgow, leaving A man is critically ill in hospital.
A spokesman for the Scottish Ambulance Service confirmed that an ambulance and three response teams were dispatched to the scene at 13:55.
Police Scotland later confirmed a total of eight people had been taken to hospital, but there were no reports of serious injuries.
A police spokesman said an investigation into the accident was ongoing.
Stagecoach No. 6 travels to Belfield, Kilmarnock, running under the bridge at MacPhail Avenue.
The bus’s roof was completely ripped off and left behind as the vehicle passed through the tunnel.
A sign near the bridge states that the bridge is not suitable for vehicles over 8 feet 3 inches (2.5 m) tall.
Buses travel at a “certain speed”
One teenager on the top floor of the bus said he was still in shock after the incident.
He said there were about 11 teenagers upstairs.
He told BBC News Scotland: “We were supposed to turn right but the bus driver took a completely different route and went under the railway bridge, which we shouldn’t have done.
“The bus was traveling at a certain speed, about 30 or 40 mph.
“The driver hit the brakes all the way and the whole roof of the bus came off. It was crushed, glass was everywhere and I could feel the glass on me.
“The people in the car knew it was going to happen before it happened. It’s really scary.”
The boy said his injuries were not serious, but he had a sore neck and scratches from broken glass.
“I can’t explain the sound, it was like a huge crash coming from the bridge,” he added.
“Then hearing all the glass falling and feeling it, it was horrible.”
‘People come to help’
Joshua Hollywood, who lives across the bridge, said people in the area came out to help those on the bus.
He said: “There were a few injuries, nothing too bad thankfully. There were a few cuts and scrapes.
“The children were in shock but the ambulance got here very quickly.
“People across the street, everyone in the area came out to try and help the at-risk kids.”
A spokesman for West of Scotland Stagecoaches confirmed the bus hit a low bridge.
They said the investigation is ongoing and the bus company is working closely with police.
The vehicle was subsequently removed from the scene
ScotRail confirmed rail services were not affected.
Network Rail engineers inspected the bridge and a spokesman later said it had not suffered any structural damage.
