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.
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