Elderly bus passenger dies in hospital after suffering broken neck in emergency stop
An elderly passenger who suffered a broken neck when a bus driver was forced into an emergency stop by a car apparently cutting across his path has died in hospital.
The 88-year-old woman had been in intensive care at Frenchay Hospital after hitting her head on the seat in front of her as the bus came to a sudden halt.
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Anyone who can help should call the Avon and Somerset police collision investigation unit on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111
She was one of only two passengers on the First single-decker number 18 bus travelling along Southmead Road towards Golf Course Lane, Filton, at about 11.45am on Wednesday.
Police this afternoon confirmed that the woman has died in hospital, and renewed their appeal for witnesses to the incident.
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Police spokesman Wayne Baker said: "During its journey, a car driven by a woman is reported to have driven across the path of the bus into Golf Course Lane, forcing the bus driver to brake sharply.
"The driver of the car stopped and shouted something at the bus driver before driving off."
The car has been described by police as "a small dark coloured, rusty brown, red-orange vehicle" and officers are keen to speak to the driver so they can piece together what happened.
Anyone who can help should call the Avon and Somerset police collision investigation unit on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.
Comments
by A_Mushroom
Sunday, May 20 2012, 11:06PM
“It is a curious anomaly that public buses don't require the wearing of seatbelts, yet they travel on the same roads and at the same speeds as private vehicles and private hire buses where the wearing of seat belts is compulsory.”
by snowymalone
Saturday, May 19 2012, 9:16AM
“@ blotto_otto
Totally agree - I've never held back with my opinion of First, singly and collectively. on this site, but there's plenty of other threads where you can **** them off. This however is something else altogether, and someone has completely innocently lost their life. Show some respect.”
by blotto_otto
Saturday, May 19 2012, 4:43AM
“@Batdad, thats a rather sweeping generalisation there. As in every aspect of life, there are a few bad eggs i grant you. However, we are not all like that so could you actually keep yourcomments related to the content of the article and not simply turn this into another First slanging match.”
by Batdad
Friday, May 18 2012, 11:34PM
“@TheSage is getting a fairly well deserved kicking for playing the armchair accident investigator, but it's also worth pointing out that Bristol's bus drivers do tend to drive like lunatics, even when they're not attempting to murder cyclists.”
by katachua
Friday, May 18 2012, 9:15PM
“@TheSage
"Bus must have been travelling at a fair speed then..."
Can someone explain to this moron the difference between velocity and acceleration? I really don't have the time or the patience...”
by FromMendip
Friday, May 18 2012, 7:58PM
“Great to have people like The Sage who can determine a cause of an accident simply by reading a newspaper report.
As for seat belts, the newish buses of Baker Dolphin on the 121 service (Bristol to Weston-super-Mare via the villages) feature belts at every seat but almost none of the passengers use them.”
by blotto_otto
Friday, May 18 2012, 6:19PM
“very sad indeed and my thoughts go out. Just to point out, the bus was probably not at a high speed, its not exactly easy to stop a bus in an emergency such as this without causing an accident either in or out of the bus in question. Lets wait till the investigation has been done.”
by Rachykins
Friday, May 18 2012, 6:10PM
“To all of my family and friends who may read this, and anyone who knew this special lady. Our thoughts are with you at this very sad time. RIP, Rachael and girls xxx”
by AJT77
Friday, May 18 2012, 4:25PM
“Very sad indeed. I think that buses should have seat belts to make them safer when this sort of thing happens.”
by TheSage
Friday, May 18 2012, 4:17PM
“Bus must have been travelling at a fair speed then...”