Thirteen people injured as two buses collide
Thirteen people were treated for injuries today after two buses crashed head-on in Birmingham.
The two drivers had to be cut free from their cabs after a single decker and a double decker bus crashed in Addison Road, Kings Heath.
The drivers and four other passengers were taken to hospital following the crash shortly after 11am.
In total, 13 patients were assessed by West Midlands Ambulance Service, seven of whom were discharged on scene.
Five ambulances, a paramedic area support officer, a doctor, the Trust's Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford were sent to the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: "Crews arrived on scene to discover two buses that had been in collision, with the front driver's side of both vehicles having suffered significant damage.
"It quickly became evident that both drivers were trapped as a result of the incident and ambulance staff worked closely with the fire service to free them, a process which took approximately 90 minutes.
"The fire service's technical rescue team had to manoeuvre the double decker bus backwards before carefully cutting part of the side of both vehicles away.
"The driver of the single decker bus, a man believed to be in his 40s, was treated by ambulance staff for leg injuries and once freed, was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.
"The driver of the double decker bus, a man thought to be in his 40s, was also treated for leg injuries and again taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.
"Both men appear to have escaped serious injuries which given the significance of the collision is extremely fortunate.
"One of the passengers on the single decker bus, an elderly female, had to be helped from the vehicle on a stretcher. She was treated for back injuries and taken to the same hospital.
"A further ten patients were assessed and triaged at the scene by HART, of which three required further assistance and onward travel to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.
"A man from the single decker bus was treated for elbow, shoulder and knee injuries, whilst two females, one of whom was elderly, were treated for minor injuries.
"All six patients who were taken to hospital were done so by land ambulance.
"The remaining seven patients were discharged at scene."
A National Express West Midlands spokesman said: "We can confirm that two of our vehicles were in involved in an incident this afternoon. We are sorry to those involved in the incident and will monitor the situation to ensure they have what they need. We are working with the authorities to assess the cause of the incident."
The incident on Twitter:
