Bus roof is ripped off and passenger suffers head injury as double-decker smashes into railway bridge in Sussex
- Passenger and driver attended to by paramedics following crash in Sussex
- Woman was taken to the nearby Royal Sussex County Hospital with a head injury
- Photographs from scene show bus with its entire roof ripped off under bridge
A bus roof was today ripped off and a passenger suffered a head injury after a double-decker smashed into a railway bridge in Sussex.
Police and paramedics rushed to the scene in Haywards Heath, Sussex this morning after a bus driver ‘misjudged’ the railway bridge and crashed at around 6.40am.
Photographs show the roof of the vehicle entirely ripped off following the incident, with glass littering the road around the wreckage.
Sussex Police confirmed ambulance crews had arrived to attend to the driver and a female passenger who was taken to Royal Sussex County Hospital with a head injury.
The driver was assessed but did not attend hospital.
Police and paramedics rushed to the scene on Rocky Lane, Sussex this morning after a bus driver ‘misjudged’ the railway bridge and crashed at around 6.40am
Rocky Lane, between Haywards Heath and Burgess Hill, remains closed following the crash.
Reports online suggested it is not unusual for accidents to occur under the low bridge, with one user writing: ‘This is the second crash under that bridge this week!’
Martin Harris, Managing Director of Brighton & Hove Bus Company, told MailOnline there were five passengers on board the bus at the time of the crash.
He added: ‘We are currently investigating the incident which occurred just before 6.45 this morning on Rocky Lane, Haywards Heath.
‘There were five passengers on board the bus at the time and one has sustained a minor injury.’
Mid Sussex Neighbourhood Policing Inspector Inspector Darren Taylor said: ‘The team, along with our fire and ambulance colleagues, have had to attend Rocky Lane this morning as a Bus has misjudged the bridge and hit the bridge, damaging its top level.
‘Ambulance colleagues are attending so some passengers.
‘Please avoid the road at his stage.’
A spokesman for South East Coast Ambulance Service confirmed that a female passenger and the bus driver were attended to following the crash.
In a statement, he said: ‘I can confirm that ambulance crews have attended the scene after reports a bus had hit a bridge on Rocky Lane, Haywards Heath, at approximately 6.40am today.
Photographs show the roof of the vehicle entirely ripped off following the incident, with glass littering the road around the wreckage
‘A woman was assessed and treated at the scene before being taken to Royal Sussex County Hospital with a head injury.
‘The driver of the bus was also assessed and treated but was discharged from our care at the scene.’
A Sussex Police spokeswoman added: ‘At 6.42am, officers received a report of a double-decker bus colliding with the railway bridge in Rocky Lane, Haywards Heath.
‘The driver and one of the passengers on board suffered injuries and are being treated by medical staff.
‘The road is closed in both directions and Network Rail have been made aware.’
It is unclear how the driver ‘misjudged’ the height of the railway bridge.
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