Miracle escape as roof ripped off bus

It really isn't the weather for an open-top bus tour.

These dramatic pictures show just how lucky 10 passengers were to escape without serious injury when the roof was ripped off a double-decker bus during Dublin's morning rush-hour yesterday.

Remarkably, none of the passengers on the 42A were sitting upstairs when the bus struck a roadside tree on Dublin's North Strand.

A spokeswoman for the company said the driver of the bus was taken to the Mater hospital to be treated for shock, but all 10 passengers on board escaped unharmed.

The accident occurred in a designated bus lane near the former Five Lamps pub as the bus travelled towards Artane from Abbey Street, shortly before 8.30am.

It struck an overhanging tree. The Dublin Bus spokeswoman confirmed there had been no complaints or safety concerns about the tree in the past -- despite many buses using that lane.

Investigations

A team of accident investigators from Dublin Bus's risk and safety department will begin inquiries into the incident. They will examine CCTV footage from the vehicle, interview the driver and passengers and examine the bus, which, the company said, was a regular model from its fleet.

Early reports that there was a fire on the Volvo Alexander bus were incorrect, the spokeswoman added.

A number of parked cars along the North Strand were showered with glass after the crash, and there were lengthy traffic tailbacks in the area.

Gardai were called to the scene and have confirmed that they will carry out a separate investigation.

A spokesman for Dublin City Council said that after carrying out an inspection, it was satisfied the tree was not an obstruction to traffic. It will remove a branch that was damaged in the accident but the tree, which has been there for around 30 years, will remain.

From Herald.ie: Overtaking car may have caused bus crash