Five people have been seriously injured as two buses crashed near the Clock Tower and outside Boots in North Street, Brighton.
Two of the five suffered life-threatening injuries when the Brighton and Hove Buses vehicles crashed, with one hitting the back of the other.
There have been suggestions that one of the drivers blacked out just before the crash at about 9.20am this morning (Monday 6 July) although he was conscious shortly afterwards.
Sussex Police said: “Two people have sustained life-threatening injuries and three have been seriously injured in a crash between two buses in central Brighton.
“Emergency services were called to Queen’s Road, near the Clock Tower, at 9.22am on Monday (6 July).
“It has been declared a major incident by the ambulance service and police have advised drivers to avoid the city centre for the next few hours.
“In addition to those seriously injured, six to eight people are understood to be ‘walking wounded’ with minor injuries and a walk-in centre for anyone injured has been set up at the top of Queen’s Road near the railway station.
“West Street is being used as a holding point for ambulances attending the incident. A triage centre has been set up in North Street.”
The driver of the rear bus was believed to be injured and trapped.
Martin Harris, the managing director of Brighton and Hove Buses, said: “I can confirm that two of our buses were in collision in North Street this morning at around 9.22am.
“All passengers were evacuated and the emergency services have been in attendance along with our operational team.
“The driver of one of the buses has been injured and the air ambulance is also in attendance.
“Our first concerns are for the safety and well-being of our staff and passengers on the bus.
“We have also set a full investigation in motion.”
Diversions are in place and traffic delays were expected. The buses are expected to be removed by about 3pm.
Uhm! In #Brighton – Hope everyone is ok: pic.twitter.com/PVdgBPR7q2
— Christopher Pope (@CreativeChris1) July 6, 2015
@bhcitynews bus crash on North road pic.twitter.com/g1nIXozp1E — AzzaTierneyOfficial (@Azza_Tierney) July 6, 2015
Let’s hope this mean they will slow down
This looked to have happened uphill!
(although I do not know the causes)…they often drive too fast for such larger vehicles close to so many pedestrians and cyclists
I understand it must be tough – we expect them ‘on time’ so as drivers they will feel the pressure put on, asked and expected of them under all sorts of conditions out of their control
My thoughts are with all injured and there family’s stay strong love hugs x godbless