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Shoreham bridge accident creates open-top bus (From The Argus)
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Shoreham bridge accident creates open-top bus
2:10pm Wednesday 22nd October 2008
A double-decker bus became an open-top when a bungling mechanic drove into a railway bridge.
The crash sliced the roof off the bus – which was out of service at the time – and sent debris crashing on to the road in Kingston Lane, Shoreham.
The driver – a Brighton and Hove Bus Company mechanic – was road-testing the vehicle when he missed his turning and unthinkingly drove down Kingston Lane under a low bridge.
He was treated for shock but no one else was hurt.
Roger French, managing director of Brighton and Hove Bus Company, said there would be a full investigation into the crash and promised to cooperate with any police inquiry.
He said: “It is very lucky there were no injuries.
“We apologise to rail passengers and road users who have been inconvenienced.”
Dicky Smith, of Broomfield Avenue, Worthing, who saw the aftermath of the crash, said: “Why would a bus try to go under that bridge?
“It is just stupidity.”
Steve Percy, who owns a house in Kingston Lane, said: “I moved into this house when I was 11 years old and in all those years I cannot remember anything getting stuck under that bridge.”
Marc Strevens, 30, was driving past when he saw the damage.
He said: “It must have hit with some force to have ripped the roof clean from the vehicle and for the bus to be on the opposite side of the bridge.”
Sussex Police said officers were called to the scene shortly before 11.30am.
The road was closed and traffic redirected while the roof and other debris were cleared.
The road had to be closed for about 90 minutes and some rail services were delayed for up to 20 minutes. The bridge itself was checked by engineers but was not structurally damaged.
Did you see what happened? Tell us below.
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Your Say YourArgus
harwood, Brighton & Hove says...
2:35pm Wed 22 Oct 08
what a muppet the driver must be, jolly roger won't be so jolly now!
BBBrighton, Brighton says...
2:56pm Wed 22 Oct 08
Dave At Home, Brighton says...
3:05pm Wed 22 Oct 08
Dickie Manlove, Manlove Villas says...
4:11pm Wed 22 Oct 08
"You wait ages for a parking space....and then....You wait ages for a parking space....Catch this bus instead"?
Errrmmm...if you don't mind lads I think i'll wait a little longer for a parking space.
Conor, Sussex says...
4:27pm Wed 22 Oct 08
edstan, Preston Park says...
4:56pm Wed 22 Oct 08
Conor wrote:or the credit crunch!
At least The Argus isn't blaming a new European no entry sign this time.
monkey-moo, newhaven says...
5:07pm Wed 22 Oct 08
davyboy, abingdon, oxon says...
5:21pm Wed 22 Oct 08
monkey-moo wrote:my thoughts exactly!! at least no-one was hurt. a regular driver would know about this bridge, but engineers would rarely go into this area, mainly sticking to the main roads. this is not an authorised route, even for single deck buses.
HOW FAST WAS THIS IDIOT DRIVING TO REMOVE THE ROOF COMPLETELY FROM THE BUS!!?
6LXB, Worthing says...
6:03pm Wed 22 Oct 08
monkey-moo wrote:Not very fast to rip the roof off.
HOW FAST WAS THIS IDIOT DRIVING TO REMOVE THE ROOF COMPLETELY FROM THE BUS!!?
There is very little structural support to the roof.
Compare this accident to when 764 lost it's roof in Lewes after brushing against a house.
http://history.buses
.co.uk/history/fleet
hist/images/764crash
1.jpg
harwood, Brighton & Hove says...
6:49pm Wed 22 Oct 08
Dickie Manlove wrote:Shouldn't they have had "catch part of this bus instead!" on the back? hahaha!
I love the advert on the back... "You wait ages for a parking space....and then....You wait ages for a parking space....Catch this bus instead"? Errrmmm...if you don't mind lads I think i'll wait a little longer for a parking space.
Everest, Southwick says...
7:47pm Wed 22 Oct 08
Dickie Manlove wrote:or...
I love the advert on the back... "You wait ages for a parking space....and then....You wait ages for a parking space....Catch this bus instead"? Errrmmm...if you don't mind lads I think i'll wait a little longer for a parking space.
You wait ages for a parking space
and then
a bus comes along that you can park ON"
The Real Phil, Brighton says...
8:16pm Wed 22 Oct 08
monkey-moo wrote:I don't normally go in for "bus driver bashing" like many of the other morons, but it was obviously either much too fast or intentional, and the driver should be charged with criminal damage if the bridge has suffered in any way.
HOW FAST WAS THIS IDIOT DRIVING TO REMOVE THE ROOF COMPLETELY FROM THE BUS!!?
simon195, crawley says...
9:40pm Wed 22 Oct 08
Dickie Manlove, Manlove Villas says...
12:37pm Thu 23 Oct 08
'Catch this bus instead'....looks like he did catch the bus, right on a bloody great big bridge.
Two Blues, brighton says...
1:16pm Thu 23 Oct 08
bring back TVS, Brighthelmstone says...
11:02pm Thu 23 Oct 08
Pontop Pike, Redhill says...
10:14am Fri 24 Oct 08
bring back TVS wrote:Crikey! I`m amazed this comment is still here!
Its a real shame Roger French wasnt on the top deck standing up at the time
davyboy, abingdon, oxon says...
1:44pm Fri 24 Oct 08
Pontop Pike wrote:bringback TVS doesn't like roger french, but this is going too far, wishing someone was hurt. too many people in brighton 'bash the buses', but you actually have one of the best services in the country. maybe bringback should get a job there!!!!
bring back TVS wrote:Crikey! I`m amazed this comment is still here!
Its a real shame Roger French wasnt on the top deck standing up at the time
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The vehicle is examined by a team from the bus firm
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PC mcgary no452, Thakeham says...
2:19pm Wed 22 Oct 08
Any other bus company care to join the growing sport of "BRIDGE BASHING"
How about ZE BEEG LEMON - they dont do much damage.