Double-decker bus crashes into Dudley town centre chip shop
A bus has crashed into a shop in Dudley town centre this morning.
The double-decker ploughed into Sofi's Plaice chip shop in Fisher Street, near the bus station, just before 6am, rupturing a gas main and injuring four people.
One of the passengers recalled how she felt the bus move out wide before seeing the chip shop "getting closer and closer".
Emergency services have been at the scene, while gas safety crews have also attended the incident.
The crash has led to the closure of Fisher Street, with buses being rerouted around the town centre.
A West Midlands Fire Service spokesman said: "Just before 6am this morning we received multiple 999 calls after a double decker bus was in collision with a two-storey building in Castle Street, Dudley.
Four fire engines responded, including a crew from our Technical Rescue Unit to help stabilise the scene. A gas main was ruptured, but this has since been capped by a gas engineer.
"Crews worked safely and effectively to evacuate the bus. Three passengers were treated by our firefighters and West Midlands Ambulance Service for what are believed to have been minor injuries.
"Whilst we believe everyone in the building has been accounted for, our search of the premises continues."
The spokesman added: "Nine people have been evacuated from the risk area as a precaution. Our Technical Rescue Unit is currently working to assess the stability of the building.
"Access to Castle Street and Fisher Street is restricted whilst our work at the scene continues."
A West Midlands Ambulance spokesman said: "We were called at 6.23am to reports of a double decker bus that had collided with a building on Castle Street, Dudley.
"One ambulance, two paramedic officers and the Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) attended the scene.
"On arrival, we assessed four patients, two women and two men. All four had sustained injuries considered to be minor, they were all given self care advice and discharged on scene.”
Speaking to the Express & Star, passenger Debbie Clarke said: "Myself and another passenger helped to get the driver out of his little cubicle and off the bus and he was a little delusional and shocked as you could imagine.
"We got him out of the way and someone called the emergency services."
Meanwhile the owner of the chip shop, Sofi Hickenbottom, said she had only found out as she was walking down to open up.
"I'm just in shock at the moment as I don't know what to do. I've been here for 33 years and this is the first time anything like this has happened to me.
"I have to thank the emergency services as they were really good and they're working with me now to make sure the shop is safe."
Motorist Darren Bytheway told the Express & Star: "The traffic is horrendous because of the bus crash, it is a no go zone for a while, I turned back, both sides of Fisher Street is closed."
Darren Ward added: "The bus ploughed into Sofi's chip shop before 6.30am this morning. Town likely to be blocked off for a number of hours to secure gas leak and then move bus."
Aaron Freeman said taxi firms were fully booked in the hours after the crash, and said friends were "struggling to commute to work with some even being told to take the day off due to the circumstances of public transport being disrupted in this way".
"I live near the Black Country Museum and due to works in the town, the island opposite the Showcase cinema having the outer lane closed off and work on the metro, Dudley is pretty much a no-go zone for traffic at the moment," he said.
A National Express West Midlands spokesperson said: "National Express West Midlands is cooperating closely with the authorities in their investigations into this incident.
"Several bus services are currently on diversion. We advise customers to check our social media channels for the latest updates and we apologise for any delay to their journeys."
West Midlands Travel (WMT) has advised bus passengers in Dudley to use alternative bus stops due to the diversions.
WMT tweeted: "Due to the road traffic collision on Fisher Street by Dudley bus station. Buses that would normally use Castle Street and Fisher Street to access and leave the bus station are using alternative routes."
National Express West Midlands has warned passengers of diversions to a number of its services.
Services diverted include 1, 27, X8, 8, 82 & 81.
Meanwhile Diamond Bus Midlands tweeted: "Due to an accident in Dudley there will be the following diversions out of Dudley Bus Station
223 To Dudley. Wolverhampton Street, Right into the inhenge, left Stafford Street, Left High St, Right Vicar St then as per 226 into Dudley."
