TfL ‘urgently investigating’ after man hit by a double-decker bus at Walthamstow bus station

TfL is currently facing criminal prosecution over the collision death of a pensioner at the same station in 2023

Transport for London (TfL) has said it is “urgently investigating” what happened when a man was hit by a double-decker bus at Walthamstow bus station. The collision, which took place shortly after 10am yesterday, is the second serious incident at the station in less than three years.

The London Ambulance Service confirmed it took the pedestrian to a major trauma centre “as a priority”, but has not issued a further update on his condition. When approached, the Metropolitan Police said the man had not died but would not comment further.

TfL is now working with the force and bus operator Stagecoach to establish the circumstances leading up to the crash.

Rosie Trew, head of bus service delivery, said: “We care deeply about the safety of everyone who uses our transport network and our thoughts are with the person who was injured following a collision with a route 275 bus at Walthamstow bus station. We’re urgently investigating alongside the operator, Stagecoach, and the police to find out what happened, and we have support for anyone affected by this incident.”

A video taken at the scene shows the bus involved cordoned off near the station’s entrance, with police officers standing guard. Paramedics can be seen administering first aid to the injured man, who is draped in a foil blanket on the road.

TfL is currently facing criminal prosecution over the death of retired nurse Grace Mecaley, who was struck by a 212 bus at the same station in December 2023. Her death led to six weeks of safety upgrades, including new CCTV cameras, road markings and better lighting.

While pedestrian crossings were also installed, they were not added at the station entrance where yesterday’s collision occurred. Driver Dylan Carroll, founder of London Bus Forums, which advocates for a safer service in the capital, said: “It shows there is a systematic failure in the health and safety in the bus station.

“This area by the entrance isn’t controlled by a pedestrian crossing, so there’s nowhere safe for people to cross. That’s concerning to me because they’ve spent a hell of a lot of money on that bus station to make it safer, but it hasn’t improved enough.”