Video shows the moment engineers carefully removed a bus which had ploughed into the front of a gym - as the owner revealed it was a 'small miracle' nobody was killed. The Stagecoach number 7 service smashed into the building in Bolton on Friday evening, leaving one casualty in hospital.
The drama happened on School Street in Westhoughton shortly before 6.40pm. CCTV footage which has been shared on social media shows the bus speeding by a line of traffic into the wrong carriageway before crashing into a car at a junction and then ploughing into the building.
Following the smash, engineers worked to remove the damaged double-decker and make the building safe. Video of the manoeuvre showed great care being taken as the vehicle was slowly removed from the building, which houses a gym.
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The work to remove the bus emerged as people who were nearby during the crash reported others were also hurt and alleged the driver had suffered a medical episode at the wheel. One passer-by reportedly went onto the bus to help evacuate those on board.
Stagecoach said they are providing support to their driver and that they are "supporting efforts to establish the full circumstances involved.”
Lee Teder, 34, who owns the damaged gym, Renegade Strength and Fitness, was inside with six others at the time.
He told the M.E.N: "It's a small miracle nobody has been seriously injured or worse. The bus has come smashing through the wall and luckily it's not hit anybody. It stopped just in front of one lad who had just finished some exercise.
"There was a massive bang and debris everywhere. After a few seconds, we realised what had happened. We knew we had to get everybody out. We were all OK, just a bit shocked."
By then, he said, others were helping people on board the bus. Lee said it could be months before he can re-open his gym.
A mum says she was left terrified and that her son is 'having nightmares' after being left covered in bruises from the crash.
Shanice Birtles, 26, who lives in Westhoughton, told the Manchester Evening News said she raced to the scene in a taxi after receiving a call telling her that her two children, two-year-old Alfie and four-month-old Ava, were on the bus with their auntie and grandmother at the time of the crash.
"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," Shanice said.
She said Alfie has bruises "all over him" , that Ava suffered scratches, and that the entire family had been left shaken up.
"He had to be checked over by the ambulance crews" she added. 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.
"I feel like the luckiest mum in the world to still have my babies with me, someone was definitely looking down on them."
A spokesperson for Stagecoach Manchester said: “We can confirm a bus operating Service 7 was involved in an incident on Market Street, Westhoughton on June 10 at 18.38.
"Our first thoughts are for those affected by the incident, and we are also providing support to our driver. Safety is our absolute priority, and we are supporting efforts to establish the full circumstances involved.”
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have been contacted for an update on the incident. On Friday they simply said a bus had "collided into a nearby building" and appealed for any witnesses to come forward.
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.”
"Anyone with information about the collision is asked to call GMP on 101 quoting incident number 2758 of 10/06/2022 or to call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
