Eccles bus crash: Terrifying moment double-decker smashes into bridge as 15 injured

Doorbell footage captured the terrifying moment a double-decker bus crashed into a bridge in Eccles, Greater Manchester. Emergency services, including the air ambulance, were called to the scene on Barton Lane at around 3pm on Monday (July 21), and 15 people were injured.

The dramatic video shows the roof of the bus fully torn off by the impact with the bridge as a loud crashing sound is heard. Greater Manchester Police confirmed that three people were seriously injured in the crash, with one in a critical condition.

Shocked residents described seeing "police and ambulance cars flying down the road" while another heard "screaming" coming from the bus.

Vernon Everitt, Transport Commissioner for Greater Manchester, said an "immediate and urgent" investigation has been launched following the collision. They are working with police and the bus operator, Stagecoach, to investigate the circumstances of the crash.

One witness reported hearing screams following the crash while another said they were "shocked" by what happened. A third local resident said the whole roof had been ripped off by the crash.

Local bus services were diverted following the collision and road closure. There were also traffic delays in the area as police put a cordon around the scene.

As reported by Manchester Evening News, two recovery trucks arrived at the scene at around 6.45pm to take the bus away. Barton Lane reopened and traffic returned to normal by 9.20pm.

A Barton Lane resident said: "I thought 'what's going on?' so I came out. And there was ambulances and police cars just flying down the road.

"You could see the bus straight away. I believe it was coming through from the Trafford side and it looks like it's come right through.

"I was shocked but not surprised as this is the third time this has happened. Another bus and a lorry have done it. You feel for the people on the bus."

A second witness added: "The scene has happened at Barton Lane, in Eccles near the Trafford Centre.

"A double decker bus has passed under a bridge that was too low with passengers and took off the whole roof. Air ambulance is at scene right now."

A third witness reported: "It probably happened two minutes before I got there. I could just hear screaming coming from the top of the bus."

Transport Commissioner for Greater Manchester, Mr Everitt, said: "First and foremost, our thoughts are with everyone on board the bus. Our absolute focus has been on supporting emergency services in their response, with some people treated at the scene and some taken to hospital.

"An immediate and urgent investigation into the circumstances is underway, and we are working closely with the investigation team at Greater Manchester Police and the bus operator, Stagecoach.

"This is clearly a distressing situation for everyone involved, and we'd like to thank emergency services for their swift response."

A North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) spokesperson said: "At 15.06, North West Ambulance Service received a call in relation to a bus collision on Barton Lane, Eccles, and declared a major incident shortly afterwards.

"The trust dispatched a number of resources, including ten emergency ambulances, advanced paramedics, our Hazard Area Response Team (HART) and colleagues from North West Air Ambulance. The first resource arrived on time at 15.10.

"NWAS treated 15 patients who were all taken to Salford Royal or Manchester Royal Infirmary hospitals.

"At 16:22 NWAS stood down from major incident status but continues to remain on scene. The area is very busy, with road closures in place; please follow @GMPSalford for the latest traffic updates."

The road was shut but has since reopened, and local traffic has returned to normal.