Harlesden shop bus crash leaves at least 17 injured

At least 17 people have been left injured after a bus crashed into a shop in Harlesden, north west London.

The route 18 double-decker bus struck the store front, near the junction of Harlesden High Street and Wendover Road, at about 14:00 BST.

Three people were seriously injured, while 14 suffered minor injuries, London Ambulance Service said.

London Fire Brigade said 20 people were helped out of the bus and 45 people evacuated from nearby buildings.

Eyewitness David Minogue, 34, said he had been walking along the street when "all of a sudden a bus ploughed across the pavement"."It was so quick, I just saw this big red bus flying across the road, knocking down the traffic light pole and crashing into the shop," he said.

Mr Minogue said he saw windows being smashed at the back of the bus's top deck to enable people to jump to safety.

Kevin Brown, Deputy Director of Operations at LAS, said "multiple resources", including a hazardous response team and London's Air Ambulance were dispatched to the scene.

"We treated 17 patients at the scene. We took three patients as a priority to hospital."A further nine adults and four children with minor injuries were also taken to hospital and one was treated and discharged at the scene," he added.

London Fire Brigade station manager Sam Kazmanli said: "The building has been severely damaged so a cordon has been put in place and people have been evacuated from the area.

The Met Police said no-one had suffered life-threatening injuries and that the bus driver and a number of passengers were treated by paramedics.

Mr Minogue, who has always lived in the area, added the road layout had recently been revamped and barriers at the corners of the roads were removed.

In response, a Brent Council spokesperson said: "As this incident will be investigated by the emergency services, it would be inappropriate to speculate or comment further on what the cause was and what impact a roadside railing at the location may have had, given the apparent speed of the vehicle when it came off the road."

Tony Akers, Transport for London's head of bus operations, said: "There will be a full investigation into the incident."

The High Street has been closed each way between Acton Lane and A404 Manor Park Road.