22/05/2006

Bus driver killed in road collision

A bus driver has been killed in a road accident in Rotherham.

The accident happened around 0659 BST on Monday morning on the A618 Pleasley Road at Guilthwaite near to Whiston in Rotherham.

It was reported that the single decker bus, belonging to the First Group, was travelling along the A618 towards Aughton when it left the carriageway and collided with a 7ft high stone garden wall.

The bus demolished the wall before striking a large tree in the garden of a house adjacent to the road.

Police said that the collision caused "extensive damage" to the front end of the bus.

The driver of the bus received serious injuries in the crash and died at the scene. He has not yet been named. A post-mortem is due to be carried out on Tuesday.

At the time of the collision, there was only one female passenger on the bus and she was uninjured, although she was described as suffering from "severe shock".

An investigation into the cause of the collision is underway.

Inspector Paul Taylor of South Yorkshire Police appealed for witnesses to come forward. He said: "This is a tragic incident for the family, friends and colleagues of the driver who died. At the time of the collision it is fortunate that there was only one passenger on the bus and that she did not sustain serious injury. Had the bus been busy it is likely that we would have been dealing with a major incident in which many people could have suffered serious injuries."

Witnesses are asked to contact South Yorkshire Police on: 0114 2202970.

(KMcA/CD)

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