Roof of bus ripped off, 26 injured in bridge crash in London

In a horrific accident in the UK, the roof of a double-decker bus was ripped off today when it hit a railway bridge here, injuring at least 26 people.
Five people suffered serious wounds while twenty others sustained minor injuriesafterthe roof of the bus was torn off as it hit a railway bridge on St Loys Road in Tottenham, London.
Firefighters rescued three people who were trapped on the top deck after the roof was torn off in the crash. Emergency services were immidiately called to the spot of the accident.
None of the injuries were believed to be life-threatening.

The vehicle was apparently being used by a party bus company, Vault London.
The company hires out double-decker buses for private events with on-board cocktail bars and DJ booths.

Network Rail has declared the bridge safe, a spokesman for London Fire Brigade said.
Scotland Yard said it was continuing to investigate the incident.
Dramatic pictures taken by London Ambulance Service staff showed that the roof of the vehicle was cut away after which three people were trapped.
The coach driver suffered head injuries in the crash, which happened when his coach mounted the pavement and smashed into the window of a chemist store near Oxford Circus.

Four other people on the coach were seriously injured, including a 15-year-old boy and a 63-year-old man, London Ambulance Service said.
Five ambulances and three motorcycle response teams were sent to the scene.
Three people suffered head injuries -- the driver, who was taken to the Royal London Hospital, the 63-year-old man, who was taken to University College Hospital (UCH), and the 15-year-old boy, who was taken to St Thomas' hospital.
Almost two hours after the crash, the coach was still jammed up against the window of the chemist store.
The coach, with German plates, bore the name Schumacher on the side and rear. It had demolished a bus stop on the other side of the road before swerving into the shop.