A couple living in a Notting Hill flat that was destroyed when a bus crashed into it have described their 'lucky' near miss, as they were at a pub at the time. The single-decker electric bus ploughed into the front of 73 St Quintin Avenue on the evening of Thursday, July 2.
Crash details and immediate aftermath
Fresh images from the scene show rubble and a window scattered across the pavement outside the Edwardian property, which had been converted into three flats. The bus struck the front of the building, causing significant damage to the basement flat where the couple lived.
A 75-year-old woman, who has lived in the flat for 18 years and requested anonymity, was at a local pub with her 82-year-old husband when the crash occurred. She said: 'I can't believe how lucky we were. We were at The Pavilion, round the corner, having dinner. My younger sister phoned me – she said 'where are you, I've been trying to ring you but the phone's dead'. Then my neighbour rang and said 'where are you?' She said 'something's happened, I'm coming round, you've got to come back straight away'.'
Close call and property damage
The couple returned to find the bus embedded in their home. The woman added: 'When we walked round the corner I couldn't believe seeing the bus where it was. My husband sits in an armchair more or less in the window – there's all rubble all over the settee where I normally sit. I think if we'd have been at home, God forbid, he'd have copped the lot.'
The crash left the couple displaced and unable to return to their home. They have been accommodated in a hotel more than a mile away, which has made it challenging for the woman to attend hospital appointments following a cancer diagnosis. They now face the prospect of potentially two further moves.
Impact on the couple
The woman expressed her distress: 'I'm trying not to think about it, because I'll end up getting upset again. I'm just waiting for the housing trust – they've said they're going to try and find us some temporary accommodation. I've told them if they can find us a flat that's more or less the same size as the one we've just lost, then we'll just do one move. Two moves might be a bit too much for us at our age.'
Official statements
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: 'On Thursday, 2 July at 19:02hrs police were called to reports of a collision between a bus and a residential building on St Quintin Avenue, Notting Hill. Officers attended alongside the London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade.' The statement added: 'No injuries were reported, no arrests have been made, and no criminal offences have been identified. Anyone with information that may assist police is asked to call 101 quoting CAD 7570/2July.'
A Transport for London spokesperson said: 'A route 70 bus was involved in a collision [July 2]. There was a minor injury that thankfully did not require treatment. The safety of our customers, colleagues and members of the public is of paramount importance, and we are working closely with the bus operator, First Bus, who are investigating this incident.' Peabody, the housing association managing the properties, and First Bus have been approached for comment.
