Swansea bus crash: Multiple injuries as double-decker hits railway bridge

Vehicle’s roof ripped off after smashing into low bridge

The 36-year-old was one of eight people who were injured in the crash in Neath Road in Swansea on 12 December (Alamy Live News)

Eight people have been injured after a double-decker bus crashed into a low railway bridge in Swansea.

One person has life-threatening injuries and another is seriously injured, South Wales Police said.

Photographs show almost half of the bus’s roof was ripped open when it hit the structure.

The accident happened at about 9.40am on Neath Road, north of the city centre.

A 63-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the incident and the bus company, First Cymru, has said a full investigation is now underway.

In a statement, South Wales Police said: “We were called to a road traffic collision on Neath Road, Swansea at about 9.40am where a double decker bus has collided with a bridge.

“Ambulance and air ambulance were in attendance and seven casualties were taken to hospital by ambulance one with serious injuries and one casualty was airlifted to the University Hospital Wales with life threatening injuries.”

According to Wales Online, fire crews, air Ambulance, the Welsh Ambulance Service and South Wales Police were all in attendance and cordoned the area off.

Network Rail said trains going in and out of Swansea had been suspended and rail replacement bus services are now running.

Alastair Hawkes, a passenger on the top deck when the crash happened, told the BBC: “There was a lady who was cut out, she was bleeding heavily and flown to hospital in Cardiff.

“I think there were three injured – somebody else was bleeding badly and an older gentleman was shaken, in shock. We thought he passed out.”

He added: “There was a crunch and smashing glass and screaming.

“Everyone was thinking ‘what just happened?’ as there was a bridge halfway up the bus.”

He added: “There was a crunch and smashing glass and screaming.

“Everyone was thinking ‘what just happened?’ as there was a bridge halfway up the bus.”

Tom Evans, who was working nearby said it looked like “a tin opener had taken the top of the bus off”.

The police have asked anyone who witnessed the collision to contact 101 quoting occurrence 1900456484.