UPDATED WITH VIDEO: Bus crashes into garage

A bus driver has been taken to hospital after ploughing into the side of a garage.
By Lauren Potts
Published 16th May 2013, 14:37 BST
The scene at Silvers garage, Pontefract, where a double decker bus has crushed a car at the garage..16th May 2013..Picture By Simon HulmeThe scene at Silvers garage, Pontefract, where a double decker bus has crushed a car at the garage..16th May 2013..Picture By Simon Hulme
The scene at Silvers garage, Pontefract, where a double decker bus has crushed a car at the garage..16th May 2013..Picture By Simon Hulme

The Arriva double decker vehicle slammed through the railings of Silvers Garage at the junction of Broad Lane and Southgate just before 7am today (Thursday).

There were no passengers on the 149 service to Knottingley when it crashed and police believe the driver collapsed at the wheel.

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Alan Garbutt, foreman of the garage, was at work when he heard the crash.

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The scene at Silvers garage, Pontefract, where a double decker bus has crushed a car at the garage..16th May 2013..Picture By Simon HulmeThe scene at Silvers garage, Pontefract, where a double decker bus has crushed a car at the garage..16th May 2013..Picture By Simon Hulme
The scene at Silvers garage, Pontefract, where a double decker bus has crushed a car at the garage..16th May 2013..Picture By Simon Hulme

He told the Express: “I was just opening up when I heard this loud bang and glass shattering. I ran around and saw some refuse men trying to open the door of the bus.

“The driver was slumped over the wheel. That was when I saw the extent of the damage, a Citroen C1 was absolutely flattened and the bus had clipped another vehicle.”

Martin Nixon, manager of the garage, said he was relieved no-one was hurt.

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He said: “It’s written off a Citroen C1 and a Honda Jazz has a back missing. It smashed into the building so we will need to get a structural engineer in but the damage looks quite superficial.

“The important thing is no-one was hurt, you can replace the cars. At least it happened before rush hour.”

Resident Virginia Price, who lives opposite the garage, said a car smashed into her house at the same junction last year.

She said: “I’ve seen it happen before, when a car hit the wall of the garage and a car hit my house last April.

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“In winter buses hit the railings at the side of the road, it’s dangerous on this hill. I just hope everything is OK with the driver.”

Nigel Featham, managing director for Arriva Yorkshire, said: “Our driver has been taken to hospital with minor injuries. We are working closely with the police in order to understand exactly what happened.”