OAP cut free from car after head-on collision with bus

Published on Friday 13 January 2012 12:00

FIREFIGHTERS had to cut an elderly women free from her car after a head-on collision with a double-decker bus.

The 83-year-old was travelling in a blue Nissan Note when the crash happened on the westbound A70 Lanark Road, near the junction with Woodhall Drive in the Juniper Green area of Edinburgh, at around 3.45pm yesterday.

Police said she hit a wall before colliding with a No 44 bus, operated by Lothian Buses.

Firefighters from Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue service had to cut the woman free, removing the doors, boot and roof of the vehicle, according to one witness.

She was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh to be treated for her injuries which were described as “serious”.

Another woman was also understood to have suffered a neck injury in the incident. Robert Kitchen, 42, a chef from Currie, witnessed the rescue as he returned home.

“It was just terrible,” he said. “There were about a dozen firefighters round the car when I arrived and they had to cut away most of the vehicle to get the poor woman out.

“They took off the doors, and then went at the roof before they were finally able to free her. I had just been on my way home when our bus was stopped, so I had to walk and I went past the scene.

“There was another lady there who had a neck brace on, but she was standing and seemed to be OK.”

A spokeswoman for the Fire and Rescue service said: “There was a woman trapped on our arrival but she was conscious and breathing, and was being tended to by paramedics.

“She was trapped by the legs, and firefighters had to cut her free using hydraulic cutting gear. They removed one side of the car, and had to cut away at the dashboard as well in order to free her.”

The road was closed until late last night to allow officers to carry out inquiries, causing severe tailbacks.

Onlooker Fiona McCloud, 27, said: “I don’t know how this has happened, the bus is right on the other side of the road and the car is a total mess.”

Police have appealed for anyone who witnessed the crash, or has any information to assist their inquiries, to come forward.