A London bus collided with a nine-year-old girl and her five-year-old brother, leaving the girl fighting for her life in the hospital. The bus driver has been detained on suspicion of “drug driving,” according to police.
Following the incident in Bexleyheath, southeast London, the driver of the No 99 bus has been held on suspicion of inflicting serious injury through reckless and drug-driven driving, according to The Evening Standard.
The girl was rushed by ambulance to hospital, where she is being treated for ‘life-threatening injuries’. Her brother was also taken to hospital as a precaution.
The incident occurred on Watling Street, close to the intersection with Halcot Avenue, and the siblings were accompanied by a family member at the time.
Officers have established police cordons and are providing support to their family while the incident scene is being investigated.
The crash happened early on Saturday morning, and the police are looking for witnesses.
An Arriva London route 99 bus was involved in the incident.
A statement from the Metropolitan Police said: ‘At 09.05 hrs on Saturday, 3 August, police were called to a bus in collision with two children on Watling Street near the junction with Halcot Avenue, Bexleyheath.
‘A nine-year-old girl was taken to the hospital by ambulance. Her injuries are being treated as life-threatening.
‘A five-year-old boy was taken to hospital as a precaution.
‘The children are siblings who were with a family member at the time of the collision. Officers are providing support to their family.
‘The male driver of the bus was arrested. He has been taken into police custody, where he remains.’
Rosie Trew, TfL’s head of bus service delivery, said: ‘Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the children involved in a bus collision in Bexley.
‘This will be a distressing time for their family and we have support available for anyone affected. We are supporting the police and the bus operator’s urgent investigation into what happened.’
Anyone with information should call 101, quoting reference 2309/03Aug.
We all know that if you’re driving any vehicle, you should not be under the influence of drugs or alcohol and that it’s an offence to do so.
Drug-using drivers, particularly those who take drugs, can be violent and irresponsible on the road and should not be allowed anywhere near a vehicle, much less the general public.
Bexleyheath has seen a significant increase in police presence.
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