Daily London
The 291 bus was en route from McMahons Point to Epping when it was hit by an SUV that allegedly ran a red light on Lane Cove Road near Epping Road at North Ryde just after 9am today.
It caused the bus to lose control and career into a medical centre while dozens of patients were inside.
Witnesses described an almighty shaking.
“The ground shook, I mean it was just like a massive bang,” Joel Nader, who was in the waiting room of the physiotherapist’s office, said.
“The building was, it rattled, it was like going through an earthquake,” Damian Benson said.
The driver was pinned to his seat after the awning of the building went through the bus windscreen.
“It was very frightening, I thought the driver died, the thing just popped him right in the chest, but he survived,” bus passenger Nikhil Singh said.
The bus driver was rescued by emergency services and taken to the hospital while the building was evacuated.
Fire and Rescue NSW officer Craig Burchmore said the bus driver was lucky to survive the crash.
“The compartment where he was sitting was completely destroyed, so it’s an absolute miracle that he’s still alive,” he said.
The bus driver, nine passengers on the bus and the 88-year-old driver of the SUV were injured.
The bus driver, the driver of the SUV and one bus passenger were taken to the Royal North Shore Hospital for further treatment.
There were no passengers travelling in the car.
Police are now investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Burchmore said the building now had major structural damage following the crash.
It took emergency services more than four hours to tow the car.
Motorists saw delays and were told to exercise caution due to heavy traffic in the area.
