Miraculous escape as roof of double decker bus is TORN off after ploughing under bridge
STUDENTS had a miraculous escape today after the roof of a double decker bus sheared off when it ploughed into a railway bridge next to a primary school.
This double decker bus had its roof torn off when it ploughed under a bridge
Teenagers on the top deck ducked at the moment the vehicle crashed, ripping off the headrests of their seats and slicing off the roof.
The dramatic collision occurred just as hundreds of young children arrived at the primary school, with many lucky not to have been hit by the roof as it fell onto the road or by debris.
The private hire bus was carrying 19 Thai students and several teachers to an English language school in Bournemouth, Dorset, at the time the crash at 8.23am outside the Stourfield Junior School in Southbourne.
Two 13 year old girls on the bus suffered minor injuries while others were treated for shock.
The entrance of the Victorian railway bridge stands at 12ft 9ins high - 1ft 9ins shorter than the 14ft 6ins tall double decker.
Emma Rawson, the headteacher of the school, rushed on to the bus after the crash and helped the stricken students off.
The bus was carrying 19 students and several teachers
Officers are investigating with the cooperation of the bus driver
Miss Rawson, said: "I was sat in the office when there was a really loud crash from outside.
"When I went out there was glass and debris everywhere and the bus with its rood off on the other side of the bridge.
"There was still a lot of children on the bus and it was obvious we needed to get them off ASAP.
"There was a lot of damage and my concern was I didn't know if it would burst into flames.
"They were quite distressed and didn't speak much English.
The entrance of the bridge was almost 2ft shorter than the tall bus
The crash left the road littered with glass and metal
"There was a lot of noise coming from upstairs. The lady with them said they instinctively crouched down at the moment of impact. They are lucky they weren't seriously hurt.
"The children coming down from upstairs were covered in glass and crying and one of them had blood running down their face.
"We took the two who were visibly hurt to our medical room, my staff were brilliant and were calming down the children at our school who saw the crash.
"The vast majority were okay but they were in state of shock."
London Bus Roof Ripped Off
The upper deck was completely ripped off in the crash
Of the two teenagers who were injured, one suffered a suspected fractured finger and the other sustained facial injuries.
They were taken to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital.
Dorset police confirmed the bus driver was uninjured and is helping them with their inquiries.
Officers sent up a drone to photograph the damage on the upper deck as part of their investigation.
One inspector called the escape 'miraculous'
Inspector Robert Jacobs, of Dorset Police, said: "It's absolutely miraculous nobody was seriously hurt.
"We could have been dealing with something far more serious but someone was looking down on them today.
It's absolutely miraculous nobody was seriously hurt
"As it was there were two minor injuries. Luckily only a few students were on the to deck at the time."
Local residents Vicki Chadwick, 24, said: "Whoever was on the top deck is lucky to be alive.
"I have never seen anyone take a roof off the bus, it's complete devastation.
"The driver should have seen that they were not going to fit under there."
Police sent a drone to photograph the damage on the upper deck
Many students were treated for shock and minor injuries
Teresa Hughes, who was on her way to work when she saw the crash, said: "The roof came completely off. It was very lucky that no one on the bus or on the ground were killed."
A spokesman for the South Western Ambulance Service said: "This was a one vehicle incident involving a bus.
"There were two female casualties who were both 13, one has suffered hand injuries and the other has facial injuries."
The Thai students were being taken to the Cavendish School of English in the town centre.
The crash happened outside the Stourfield Junior School in Southbourne
After the collision taxis arrived to take those who were unhurt to the school.
Cavendish School of English has been contacted by Express.co.uk for comment.
South West Trains services were delayed while engineers inspected to railway bridge.