Bus goes topless
ADOUBLE-DECKER bus had its roof and most of the top floor smashed off after it drove into an overhead footbridge in Runcorn.
The incident happened shortly before 1pm on Tuesday.
No-one was injured as only the driver and one downstairs passenger were on board.
A Cheshire police spokeswoman said Halton Borough Council engineers checked over the bridge and deemed it safe.
Another bus driver was first on the scene and claimed the driver had been sent on an unfamiliar route with only a map and a print out of directions to guide him.
He said: “It happened when he turned left instead of right at Runcorn busway and ripped the roof off.
“It’s pure luck there was nobody sitting in the upper deck when it happened.”
A Stagecoach spokeswoman said: “We can confirm that a Stagecoach bus was involved in an incident shortly before 1pm this afternoon on Palacefields busway, Runcorn, at the footbridge. There was one passenger and a driver on the lower ● level of the bus at the time. Noone was injured. Safety is our absolute priority and we are assisting police with their inquiries as well as carrying out our own investigation into the incident.”
She added: “This was an experienced, fully qualified driver with several years’ service with Stagecoach. All company and Traffic Commissioner processes were complied with and the driver was fully trained on the route. In addition, it is standard practice for drivers to have notes and maps taken from their training period.”