A horrified couple described being woken by 'the biggest bang they'd ever ever heard' as one of Manchester's busiest roads descended into chaos this morning (November 9).
An air ambulance landed and emergency services were scrambled to Rochdale Road, on the edge of the city centre, shortly after 8am. Harry Yearsley and his partner had been fast asleep when they were startled awake.
Going outside, he described a scene of carnage. Sections of two Bee Network buses had been reduced to twisted metal, and glass and debris littered one of the main routes from north Manchester into the city centre.
As police, fire and North West Ambulance Service swarmed the area, Harry told the M.E..N: "We got woken up at about 8.20am and we just heard a really loud bang. We came out because it's literally right next to our house.
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"It was a few minutes before we got dressed. There was all ambulances and police cars and people getting put into ambulances."
The pair were left terrified after hearing the crash, he said, and had been peacefully asleep when they heard it. Harry added: "We knew it was something bad because it was just a really loud bang that literally woke us up," said Harry. "We woke up and said to each other 'what is that?'
"We started to get dressed and then within five minutes we heard the air ambulance. It was the biggest bang we've ever heard."
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that 13 people have been taken to hospital following the crash. A statement from North West Ambulance Service later raised the number of casualties to 17.
Images taken shortly after the collision, which involved two buses, showed passengers being forced to free themselves from the wreckage. According to eyewitnesses, the rear and front of two separate buses collided in the incident - the impact forcing the front vehicle sideways and off Rochdale Road.
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service had to rescue one passenger from the upper desk of one of the buses. A spokesperson said: “At around 8.45am this morning (Saturday 9 November), two fire engines from Phillips Park and Broughton fire stations were called to a crash involving two buses on Rochdale Road, Manchester.
“Crews arrived quickly and worked with Greater Manchester Police and North West Ambulance Service to make the area safe. Firefighters extricated one person from the upper deck of the bus and13 casualties were transferred to North Manchester General Hospital under the care of North West Ambulance Service. Fire crews were in attendance for just over an hour."
Greater Manchester Police have said in a statement that there have been 'no serious injuries reported'. A spokesperson for GMP told the MEN: "At 8.30am this morning we were called to reports of a road traffic collision between two buses on Rochdale Road, Manchester. Emergency services are at the scene, and road closures remain in place. No serious injuries have been reported."
The road was reopened by police shortly before midday. Both buses were towed away by recovery vehicles. Emergency responders then cleared debris from the tarmac.
TfGM’s Director of Bus, Stephen Rhodes, told the MEN: “This morning at around 8.30am there was a collision involving two Bee Network buses in Manchester near the junction of Rochdale Road and Livesey Street. We are liaising with emergency services and want to wish any passengers who have been injured a speedy recovery.
“The road is currently closed and buses in the area are being diverted. Please check the Bee Network website for more information. If you are travelling in the area please plan ahead as we are expecting a busy weekend in the city centre with the Christmas markets beginning.”
