15 people were taken to hospital following the incident, with one in a critical condition
The crash on Barton Lane on Monday
A double decker bus that lost its roof after crashing into a bridge was not on its usual route, Transport for Greater Manchester has confirmed tonight.
A total of 15 people were taken to hospital after emergency services were called to Barton Lane, Eccles, shortly after 3pm on Monday, July 21.
One person is understood to remain in a critical condition following the crash, with two others seriously injured.
The road remained closed while emergency services, including the air ambulance, attended the scene.
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) confirmed it had launched an investigation into the incident.
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Emergency services at the scene on Barton Lane (Image: Jason Roberts /Manchester Evening News)
In an update late on Monday evening, it confirmed the bus, running on the Number 100 service, was not on its standard route when the incident took place.
A TfGM spokesperson said: “We can confirm the bus was not on its usual route at the time of the collision on Barton Lane.
“The circumstances of the bus being off route are being formally investigated.”
Speaking earlier today, Vernon Everitt, Transport Commissioner for Greater Manchester, said: “First and foremost, our thoughts are with everyone on board the bus. Our absolute focus has been on supporting emergency services in their response, with some people treated at the scene and some taken to hospital.
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“An immediate and urgent investigation into the circumstances is underway and we are working closely with the investigation team at Greater Manchester Police and the bus operator, Stagecoach.
“This is clearly a distressing situation for everyone involved and we’d like to thank emergency services for their swift response.”
A North West Ambulance Service spokesperson added: “At 15.06 North West Ambulance Service received a call in relation to a bus collision on Barton Lane, Eccles, and declared a major incident shortly afterwards.
“The trust dispatched a number of resources, including ten emergency ambulances, advanced paramedics, our Hazard Area Response Team (HART) and colleagues from North West Air Ambulance. The first resource arrived on time at 15.10.
“NWAS treated 15 patients who were all taken to Salford Royal or Manchester Royal Infirmary hospitals.”
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