Double-decker bus roof ripped clean off in bridge crash
Witnesses described an "incredible bang" as the National Express West Midlands bus smashed into the bridge.
The roof of a double-decker bus was ripped clean off in a collision with a railway bridge.
Witnesses described an "incredible bang" as the National Express West Midlands bus smashed into the bridge near Cadbury World in Bournville, cleaving the roof from the upper deck and leaving it lying on the road.
The scene on Bournville Lane was left strewn with debris from the topless double-decker, which was not carrying passengers at the time.
One witness wrote on Facebook: "So a bus just drove under Bournville Lane bridge and took the top clean off... only just stopped shaking, the bang was incredible. Thankfully driver was ok and no passengers on."
Images showed the bus parked up in front of a row of houses, its roof gone but all the seats seemingly intact.
Another wrote: "There must be easier ways - someone has just driven a double decker bus under the Bournville bridge and completely removed the roof! Now parked outside our house."
Police, paramedics and the fire service were quickly on the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “When ambulance staff arrived they found a double-decker bus with it’s roof completely sliced off, which had landed on the road.
"Thankfully, there were no passengers on the bus at the time. The driver, a man in his 30s, was checked over by ambulance staff but was uninjured.
“This was a remarkable incident for emergency services to respond to. It was incredibly lucky that the bus was empty as it could’ve resulted in a very serious or even fatal incident.”
West Midlands Ambulance Service paramedic Ben Pallante tweeted: "Slightly different end to my shift tonight. We responded to reports of a bus vs bridge in south birmingham, upon arrival a double decker bus had gone through a bridge...
"Thankfully no customers were on board and the driver had no injuries."
A tweet on the Kings Norton Community Fire Station pages simply said: "Double decker v bridge. Bridge wins. Not in service no one hurt. Crews making area safe with @Bournbrookfire."
