Emergency services rush to scene after double-decker collides with street furniture – one hospitalised
A double-decker bus has crashed into a flagpole near the Houses of Parliament this morning, sparking a major emergency response at one of London’s most iconic locations.
Emergency services rushed to Parliament Square after the Number 11 bus – travelling from Waterloo Station to Fulham Broadway – smashed into street furniture at approximately 9.36am today.
The dramatic incident saw firefighters, paramedics and police officers descend on the scene, with one person taken to hospital and another treated at the scene.
Passenger Panic
Around 25 passengers were forced to evacuate the stricken double-decker before firefighters arrived, with witnesses describing scenes of chaos as the bus mounted the pavement on the central island of Parliament Square.
A London Ambulance Service spokesman told GB News: “We were called at 9.36am today, June 16 to reports of a road traffic collision on Parliament Square, Westminster.
“We sent an ambulance crew and an incident response officer to the scene. We treated two people and took one patient to a local hospital. The other patient declined further treatment.”
Fuel Spillage Fear
Fire crews were forced to deal with a fuel spillage at the scene, adding to concerns about the severity of the crash.
A London Fire Brigade spokesman told GB News: “We were called at 9.36am today to a report of a road traffic collision on Parliament Square. A double decker bus had collided with another vehicle and street furniture.
Firefighters made the scene safe, including clearing up a fuel spillage. One person was taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service. Around 25 people left the bus before firefighters arrived. One fire engine from Lambeth Fire Station attended the scene.”
TfL Investigation
Transport for London confirmed the bus had left the carriageway before mounting the pavement, though thankfully reported no serious injuries.
A TfL spokesman told GB News: “A route 11 bus left the carriageway and mounted the pavement on the central island of Parliament Square earlier today.
“Thankfully no injuries were reported.”
Tourist Hotspot Chaos
The crash occurred at one of London’s busiest tourist destinations, with Parliament Square surrounded by major landmarks including Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament.
The central island where the bus crashed is home to statues of prominent historical figures and is typically packed with tourists taking photographs of the iconic Westminster skyline.
Police Response
Officers from the Metropolitan Police were quickly on scene to manage traffic and assist with the emergency response near Westminster Abbey.
The incident caused significant disruption to traffic flow around Parliament Square, one of central London’s major junctions, during the Monday morning rush hour.
Route 11 Service
The Number 11 bus route is one of London’s oldest, having operated continuously since 1906. The route typically runs between Fulham Town Hall and Waterloo Station, passing through Chelsea and Westminster.
The service is operated by London General, a subsidiary of Go-Ahead London, using modern double-decker buses on one of the capital’s busiest routes.
Investigation Underway
Both Transport for London and the Metropolitan Police are expected to launch investigations into how the bus came to leave the road and crash into the flagpole.
The cause of the crash remains unclear, with investigators likely to examine CCTV footage from the area and interview witnesses and the bus driver.
Parliament Square has seen previous incidents over the years, including the 2017 Westminster terror attack when a car was driven into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge before crashing into Parliament’s perimeter fence.
Today’s incident, while causing disruption and injury, appears to have been a traffic accident rather than anything more sinister, according to initial reports from the scene.
