A mum has spoken of the traumatic aftermath of a double-decker bus crash that hurt her two little children. Shanice Birtles, 26, said two-year-old Alfie, was left with bruises and Ava, just four months old, suffered scratches when the Stagecoach bus crashed into a gym on Friday evening.
Shanice got a frightening call to say her two children were on the bus which collided with a car and then ploughed into the building in School Street, Westhoughton, near Bolton. She told the Manchester Evening News that Alfie and Ava were on the bus back to their home with their aunt and grandmother at the time of the crash.
She said: "I got this terrifying call and was just told that 'the bus had crashed with my kids on it and that I needed to get down there now'. I didn't know what had happened so I got in a taxi straight away.
"I got out of the taxi and ran for my life, a stranger had hold of my daughter and Alfie was with his aunt and grandma. He'd fallen right down the bus and was on the floor before he was picked up by someone.
"He had to be checked over by the ambulance crews. There were other people there with more serious injuries, but I'm taking him to the doctor on Monday to tell them what happened and make sure he's ok."
The family says they have been left 'traumatised' by the experience, as Shanice added: "We're all traumatised. Myself because I got that phone call. The children traumatised because of the event itself. Their grandma hasn't stopped crying all day because of it.
"I can't let my children out of my sight again. I feel like the luckiest mum in the world to still have my babies with me, someone was definitely looking down on them."
On the night itself, a spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said: "At 18:40 today (10 June), firefighters were called to reports of a road traffic collision involving a bus, a car and a building. Two fire engines from Atherton and Hindley stations, and the technical response unit from Leigh quickly attended.
"Crews worked with colleagues from North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) and Greater Manchester Police to assess the area and make the scene safe. One casualty was conveyed to hospital by NWAS. Firefighters are currently still in attendance.”
A statement from Greater Manchester Police also said: "Officers attended alongside emergency services and are currently dealing with a bus that has collided into a nearby building.
Stagecoach has been approached for a comment.
