A bus driver has been arrested and bailed after a double-decker bus struck a low-level aqueduct in Eccles, Greater Manchester, tearing off the roof. The incident occurred at about 3pm on Monday on Barton Lane, where the number 100 Bee Network bus hit the Bridgewater Canal aqueduct.
Police believe the bus had deviated from its expected route, and the driver failed to heed height restriction warnings, including hanging chains and signage. The top deck was sheared off, ejecting a passenger. Three people—a 19-year-old woman, a man in his 20s, and another in his 40s—sustained serious injuries and remain hospitalized in stable condition.
Seventeen other individuals were treated at the scene for non-life-threatening injuries. The driver, a man in his 50s, was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by careless driving and has been bailed pending further inquiries.
Greater Manchester Police are appealing for witnesses and any footage, including dashcam, mobile phone, or doorbell camera recordings from the area before the collision. Transport for Greater Manchester stated its focus is on supporting emergency services and investigating the incident with the bus operator, Stagecoach.
