Saturday, May 22, 2010

Sunderland city centre Stagecoach bus accident sparks safety fears

Serious fears have been raised over an accident blackspot after two men were hit by buses within 24 hours.
The pedestrians were treated for their injuries at Sunderland Royal Hospital after the separate incidents on a busy stretch of Holmeside.

The latest collision on the Sunderland city centre street took place on Wednesday, near the pedestrian crossing at the bottom of Park Lane.

A Stagecoach bus was driving along Holmeside when it collided with a 24-year-old man crossing the road at about 5.20pm.

Police and paramedics were called to the scene and the man was taken to hospital with head injuries.

He is recovering in hospital and police have confirmed his injuries are not life-threatening.

The road was closed for three hours while accident investigators cleared the scene.

On Tuesday at 8.20pm, a 37-year-old man was taken to hospital after being hit by another bus from an unknown transport company on Holmeside.
He was checked over by medics before being sent home.

Security guard Andy Collins gave first aid at the scene of the accident on Tuesday.

Andy, 41, from Plains Farm, said: "I ran across the road and put him into the recovery position and was checking that his airway was clear. He then started moaning, but was incoherent.

"I started talking to him and asked if he could hear me by letting me know by squeezing my fingers which I put into his hand, to which he didn't respond."

Andy stayed with the man until police and paramedics arrived.

Coun Peter Wood, Tory transport spokesman and ward councillor for the area, said: "It's clearly a potentially dangerous spot and obviously it's important pedestrians and drivers take maximum care.

"It's particularly important for pedestrians because they are more vulnerable in these circumstances as damage to a bus is much less significant.

Silksworth girl suffers head injuries in accident.

"It is very alarming and needs investigating to see if there is some way the area can be improved.

"Everybody has to act responsibly and be particularly wary when crossing the road. Use the pedestrian crossing and wait for the green man.

"I really hope two accidents in such a short space of time does not mean we are going to have more."

Tributes to tragic Katelyn.

Stagecoach North East has co-operated with investigating officers, who have said they are not looking for witnesses to either of the incidents.

Nigel Winter, operations director at Stagecoach North East, said: "Incidents like this are rare and we wish the gentleman involved a full and swift recovery.

"We have provided our external CCTV footage to the police to assist with their investigation and as such we cannot comment further at this time."

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