A bus had its roof ripped off after colliding with a low bridge in Littleborough, Greater Manchester, on Friday afternoon. Emergency services responded to the incident on Halifax Road shortly after 2:30 PM, and multiple passengers sustained injuries, though none are believed to be life-threatening.
The collision involved a stagecoach bus traveling towards Rochdale. While the exact cause is under inquiry, the bridge has a documented history of being struck by vehicles due to its low clearance. This incident highlights ongoing concerns about road safety and signage in the area, and prompts questions about preventative measures to avoid future collisions.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed officers were on scene managing traffic and assisting emergency services. North west Ambulance Service treated several passengers at the scene for minor injuries, including cuts and bruises.
A spokesperson for Stagecoach said, “We can confirm one of our buses was involved in an incident in Littleborough earlier today. Our immediate priority is the safety and wellbeing of our passengers and driver.We are fully assisting the police with their investigation and will be carrying out our own investigation to determine the circumstances.”
Halifax Road was closed in both directions following the incident, causing meaningful disruption to traffic. Authorities have since reopened one lane,but delays are expected to continue as recovery efforts proceed.
This is not the first time this particular bridge has been hit. in recent years,there have been numerous reports of vehicles striking the bridge,leading to calls for improved warning systems and potential infrastructure adjustments. Local residents have long voiced concerns about the risk posed by the low bridge, particularly to larger vehicles unfamiliar with the area.