A bus driver who crashed into a bridge while on 'auto-pilot' momentarily forgot he was behind the wheel of a double-decker, a court heard. Fifteen people were injured, three seriously, and a major incident was declared when the Bee Network bus smashed into the bridge as it entered a tunnel under the Bridgewater Canal on Barton Lane in Eccles, tearing off its roof.
Crash details
Manchester Crown Court heard driver Christopher Henry ignored several 'low bridge' warnings in the moments before the crash before taking a wrong turn in the 100 service, from the Trafford Centre to Manchester city centre. Earlier in his shift he had been on a different route, the 52, a single decker bus which went along Barton Lane. At the time of the crash Henry - a bus driver of 15 years experience - 'must have thought he was driving the 52 bus instead'.
The crash happened on July 21, 2025, when the 13ft 10 tall bus hit the 11ft 6 bridge. An automated alert was heard warning of a 'low bridge ahead' on several occasions in CCTV footage. Henry was seen overriding a warning on his ticket machine saying 'bridge alert stop vehicle' in order to let a passenger board. In the moments after the crash, screams and crying could be heard as a male voice shouted 's**t, s**t'.
Injuries and impact
One victim suffered a fractured skull and other numerous serious injuries when he was 'ejected' from the top deck. Two men and a woman suffered 'grave injuries' - including skull, spine and rib fractures, a broken arm and severe cuts to the face and head. The woman told the court her injuries meant she had had to break off her studying for a law degree and now suffered from flashbacks and 'cognitive and communication difficulties'.
Sentencing
Stephen Tettey, defending, said Henry had expressed his 'profound and significant remorse' over the crash and the injuries caused. He said Henry had worked as a driver for around 15 years without incidents and had been employed by Stagecoach for around 20 years. He had no relevant previous offending history and was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the collision.
Recorder Emma Fisher described the scene of the crash as 'carnage' and the injuries suffered as 'catastrophic'. She added: "A person driving a public service vehicle must never allow themselves to be in auto pilot. Attentiveness was such that you failed to realise you were not driving the same bus that you were earlier that day."
Henry, of Thornhill Road, Tameside, pleaded guilty to three counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He was handed a two year and eight months prison sentence, suspended for two years and six months; and ordered to complete 300 hours of community service with £150 costs.
