A MAN is seriously ill in hospital after stepping into the path of a bus.

The accident happened in York Place, near St Peter’s Church, Brighton at about 12.40pm yesterday.

A 66-year-old man, who did not want to be named, said the pedestrian walked into the side of the number 50 bus while it was moving.

The Carlton Hill resident said: “I was on the bus and waiting to get off near the driver. He was going forward and the road appeared to be clear.

“Then there was a person who walked into the bus rather suddenly at the last minute, hitting the corner of the left hand side of the bus.

“There was an enormous crack on the window screen and I thought, what the hell was that?

“I called the ambulance and it didn’t look good.

“He was unconscious and coughing up a lot of blood and was in quite a bad way.

“A lot of people came to assist the man before the ambulance arrived.”

A South East Coast Ambulance Service spokesman said the pedestrian was treated at the scene and taken to the nearby Royal Sussex County Hospital.

Major traffic queues built up as police closed the road for the emergency services.

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service was also called and was at the scene until just before 1.10pm.

Martin Harris, Brighton and Hove Buses managing director, said: “We regret to report a pedestrian stepped out in front of a bus earlier today and was hit.

“He’s been taken to hospital where we understand he is being treated for a serious injury.

“The accident happened at the bottom of Lewes Road on the St Peter’s Church bus lane in the direction of the Old Steine.

“Our thoughts are with the pedestrian.

“We dearly hope he makes a full recovery.

“We’re staying in close contact with the hospital so we know how he’s doing.

“We’re also taking care of our driver who was badly shaken by the incident.

“CCTV footage shows the pedestrian was, sadly, looking the other way when he stepped off the kerb and into the road.

“Our driver was driving at less than 15mph as he was moving towards the traffic lights and, though they were on green, he was alert to them changing and braked immediately.

“No passengers were hurt.”

The collision took place around 200 metres away from where a six-year-old girl suffered potentially life-changing injuries to her foot after being hit by a coach as she crossed Marlborough Place in June.

The police investigation into that incident concluded last month with no further action taken.