A Cheltenham woman has recounted the harrowing experience when the double-decker bus she was on crashed into a low railway bridge. Margaret Luck considers herself fortunate to have been seated downstairs, as the impact tore the top deck off the bus, likely saving lives.
The incident happened on Hyde Lane on Thursday, March 19, when the Pulhams bus collided with the railway bridge and became lodged underneath it. The road remained closed for several hours following the accident.
Photographs from the scene revealed the devastating damage caused by the collision, showing the upper section of the bus ripped clean off, with glass and debris scattered across the road.
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A spokesperson from Pulhams confirmed that there were five passengers and one driver aboard, all seated downstairs, and thankfully, no injuries were reported.
Margaret described how the crash unfolded about half an hour into her journey home to Woodmancote from Cheltenham city centre. She said, “When we reached the railway bridge on Hyde Lane, the driver drove straight into it. The top of the bus was completely sheared off, with parts hanging precariously near where I was sitting.”
She added, “Had we been upstairs, I believe we would have been killed. I usually like sitting on the top deck, but after this, I’m never doing that again.”
What should have been a 50-minute journey extended to three hours due to the delay and replacement bus arrangements. Margaret expressed her frustration, criticizing the decision to send a double-decker bus along a route with a clearly posted height restriction.
“The driver should not have been sent on this route. The bridge has clear height limit signs, and the driver must have known the bus was too tall,” she said. “All of us on board were shaking when we got off. I couldn’t sleep last night; I’m very upset about what happened.”
Pulhams has announced an internal investigation into the crash. Their statement said, “We apologise for any worry or disruption caused to our passengers, motorists, and rail users. Accidents like this are extremely rare, and we pride ourselves on our strong safety record.”
Gloucestershire Police confirmed that emergency services responded to a single-vehicle collision at around 11:45 am. Officers assisted with road closures, and no injuries were reported.
The railway bridge enforces a height limit of 3.9 meters, but accidents involving tall vehicles have occurred before. In fact, nearly 12 years ago, on March 17, 2014, another double-decker bus struck the same bridge, losing its roof in a similar mishap.