Driver seriously injured after ‘medical episode’ before double-decker bus crash

A bus driver was left seriously injured after a bus crash in Wigan on Thursday afternoon (January 16).

The driver, a man in his 50s, was suspected to have suffered a medical episode behind the wheel before the yellow double-decker smashed into a tree.

An air ambulance, police, paramedics and fire crews descended on the major collision on Atherleigh Way, at the junction with Findlay Street and Twist Lane, at around 4pm. Pictures from the scene showed road closures in place after the Bee Network service mounted the pavement.

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The driver was cut free and rescued by fire crews before being rushed to hospital with injuries that were described as ‘serious’.

The driver was rescued after the bus was smashed into a tree -Credit:Stephen Jackson

There was congestion throughout the area, near to the Parsonage Retail Park throughout the afternoon and into the evening while investigations were carried out.

No other injuries were reported, and it is understood that the bus was out of service at the time, meaning no passengers were on board.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said: “At around 4.05pm today (Thursday 16 January), two fire engines from Hollins and Atherton fire stations and the enhanced rescue unit from Ashton fire station attended a crash involving a bus and a tree on the junction of Atherleigh Way and Twist Lane, Leigh.

“Crews arrived quickly to make the area safe and worked with North West Ambulance Service to remove one person from the vehicle before they were transferred to hospital. Firefighters departed after roughly 50 minutes in attendance.”

A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson confirmed road closures were in place around Atherleigh Way amid the incident, and that a man in his 50s had been rushed to hospital with serious injuries.

TfGM’s Director of Bus, Stephen Rhodes, added: “We are aware that a colleague has been taken to hospital following a collision involving an out of service bus this afternoon.

“This is clearly an upsetting incident and our thoughts are very much with the driver, their family and friends.”