Bus driver arrested over Eccles bridge crash which hurt 20 people

The driver of a double-decker bus that crashed into a canal bridge injuring 20 people, including three who were seriously hurt, has been arrested.

A passenger was thrown from the top deck when the vehicle’s roof was torn off as it struck the Bridgewater Canal Aqueduct on Barton Lane in Eccles, Salford on Monday, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said.

The force said a 19-year-old woman, and two men, one aged in his 20s and another in his 40s, sustained serious injuries and remain in hospital in a stable condition.

The driver, a man in his 50s, was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by careless driving and has been bailed pending further inquiries.

Police said 12 other people were treated at the scene for injuries that were “non-life threatening or life-changing” and five others had injuries which didn’t require treatment.

Barton Lane has since been reopened, and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) said it has launched an “immediate and urgent” investigation into the circumstances of the crash.

This includes why the 100 service bus was “not taking its usual route”, a TFGM spokesman said.

Police said there are height restriction warnings in place by the bridge, including hanging chains and signs.

Transport Commissioner for Greater Manchester Vernon Everitt said: “We are working closely with the investigation team at Greater Manchester Police and the bus operator, Stagecoach.

“This is clearly a distressing situation for everyone involved and we’d like to thank emergency services for their swift response.”

The road was closed into Monday evening with diversions in place as authorities worked to move the damaged bus.

Labour MP for Worsley and Eccles Michael Wheeler said the crash was “unacceptable”.

“It’s not the first time this has happened, so after understanding what’s happened we need to do everything we can to make sure it doesn’t happen again,” he told BBC Radio Manchester.

A bus has previously had its roof ripped off after striking the same bridge in April 2023.