A terrified mother says her son is 'having nightmares' after being left covered in bruises from a bus crash. The 26-year-old mother's two children were on the double-decker Stagecoach bus that crashed in Westhoughton on Friday, causing extensive wreckage.
One person was taken to hospital after the bus ploughed into a gym in School Street at around 6.40pm on June 10. Pictures from the scene revealed the damaged caused to the building, while footage on social media shows the bus speeding by a line of traffic before crashing into a car at a junction and then ploughing into the building.
Mum Shanice Birtles, who lives in Westhoughton, told the Manchester Evening News that she was among those who received a frightening call telling her that her two children, aged just two years and four months old, were on the bus at the time of the smash.
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The two little ones, Alfie and Ava, were on the bus back to their home with their aunt and grandmother at the time of the crash. "We're all shaken up, my two-year-old Alfie keeps having nightmares, he has bruises all over him," said Shanice.
"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."
Stagecoach has been approached for a comment. 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.
"Road closures remain in place at Church Street at the junction with Market Street.
Anyone with information should contact Greater Manchester Police quoting 2758 of 10/06/2022 or the independent charity – Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
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