A 15-year-old girl is in critical condition after a double decker bus crashed into a bus shelter in south London in a suspected drug-driving incident on Sunday.
Police and emergency services were called to the scene in Station Road, Croydon shortly before 12.30pm following reports of a collision involving another bus and a car at West Croydon Bus Station.
The teenage girl – a passenger on the 198 bus – was taken to a local hospital by air ambulance and is now fighting for her life.
Twenty injured people were treated at the scene, with 18 taken to hospital suffering from mostly minor wounds, according to the London Ambulance Service.
The driver of the bus has been arrested on suspicion of on suspicion of failing a roadside drug screening test and was taken into custody before being released.
“At this early stage it is believed a route 198 double decker bus had been in collision with a car, another bus and a bus shelter at the location,” said a police spokesperson.
“A girl, believed aged 15 and a passenger on the route 198 bus, was treated at the scene for injuries before being taken to a south London hospital. She remains there in a critical condition. Her next of kin have been informed.”
“A man – the driver of the bus, aged in his 60s – was arrested on suspicion of failing a roadside drug screening test.”
Steve Reed, MP for Croydon North, tweeted: “Hope and pray the young woman hit by a bus and others affected at Croydon bus station will be ok – horrific incident requires full investigation into how this could happen.”
Transport for London (TfL) warned that several bus routes in the area have been diverted due to the crash.
Enquiries into the circumstances remain ongoing by officers from Croydon. Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 and quote CAD 3330.
