Eight people sustained injuries, including one critically, after a double-decker bus collided with a railway bridge in Glasgow city centre on Saturday evening. The crash occurred on Cook Street near its junction with Commerce Street at approximately 6:00 PM GMT.
The 4A First Bus had part of its roof torn off as it became wedged under the bridge. Five passengers were transported to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital via ambulance, while three others received medical assessment at the scene and were later taken to the hospital for further treatment.
Eyewitness Account: Wrong Turn Led to Crash
Spike Turner, a passenger seated third from the front of the bus, revealed that the driver appeared to have made a wrong turn, resulting in the bus striking the low-clearance bridge. He recounted: ”I was fine, but the lady in front of me might have been concussed. The bridge itself wasn’t high enough to hit anyone’s heads, but parts of the bus exterior swung down. The man in the front seat was in a really bad state—he had a lot of blood and a massive gash on his head.”
Road Closures and Train Service Disruptions
Following the crash, a number of roads have been closed in the area, including sections of Cook Street between Centre Street and Wallace Street, as well as Commerce Street to Salkeld Street. Police Scotland has urged drivers to avoid the area while investigations continue.
ScotRail services have also been disrupted, with trains between Glasgow Central and destinations such as Ardrossan Harbour, Ayr, Largs, Gourock, Wemyss Bay, and Paisley Canal facing delays, cancellations, or schedule revisions.
Bridge Incident History and Investigation
The bridge near the O2 Academy is marked for vehicles under 3.8 meters (12.5 feet) in height and is located shortly after a turn on the one-way street. Notably, this is not the first incident at the site—a similar crash involving a bus occurred in May of last year, injuring 10 people.
First Bus, the operator of the double-decker, issued a statement confirming the injuries and promising a thorough investigation: ”We are aware of numerous injuries and one person being taken to the hospital. We have launched an immediate investigation and are cooperating with Police Scotland in their inquiries.”
Network Rail and the Scottish Ambulance Service have been contacted for further comment.
