Transport for London (TfL) has launched an urgent investigation after a man was struck by a double-decker bus at Walthamstow bus station yesterday morning. The collision, which occurred shortly after 10am, marks the second serious incident at the same station in less than three years.
Man taken to major trauma centre after collision
The London Ambulance Service confirmed it transported the pedestrian to a major trauma centre “as a priority,” but has not provided further updates on his condition. The Metropolitan Police confirmed the man had not died, but declined to comment further.
TfL is now working alongside the police and bus operator Stagecoach to determine the circumstances leading up to the crash. A video from the scene shows the bus cordoned off near the station entrance, with police officers standing guard and paramedics administering first aid to the injured man, who was wrapped in a foil blanket on the road.
Second serious incident in under three years
TfL is currently facing criminal prosecution over the death of retired nurse Grace Mecaley, who was struck by a 212 bus at the same station in December 2023. Her death prompted six weeks of safety upgrades, including new CCTV cameras, road markings, and improved lighting.
While pedestrian crossings were installed as part of those upgrades, they were not added at the station entrance where yesterday’s collision occurred. This gap has drawn criticism from safety advocates.
Safety campaigner calls for better crossing controls
Dylan Carroll, founder of London Bus Forums, which advocates for safer bus services in the capital, said: “It shows there is a systematic failure in the health and safety in the bus station. This area by the entrance isn’t controlled by a pedestrian crossing, so there's nowhere safe for people to cross. That’s concerning to me because they’ve spent a hell of a lot of money on that bus station to make it safer, but it hasn't improved enough.”
Rosie Trew, head of bus service delivery at TfL, said: “We care deeply about the safety of everyone who uses our transport network and our thoughts are with the person who was injured following a collision with a route 275 bus at Walthamstow bus station. We're urgently investigating alongside the operator, Stagecoach, and the police to find out what happened, and we have support for anyone affected by this incident.”
The investigation is ongoing, and TfL has said it will provide support to those affected. The incident raises renewed questions about pedestrian safety at the station, particularly at the entrance where no controlled crossing exists.
