Safety inquiry after OAP hit by bus at danger junction

A SAFETY investigation is to be launched after a pensioner suffered serious head injuries when he was hit by a bus.

The man, said by police to be in his 70s, was hit by a number 33 Lothian Bus at the corner of East Preston Street and South Clerk Street in Southside yesterday afternoon.

He was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

Council transport bosses today said they would investigate whether further safety measures are needed at the junction which residents and businesses have described as “an accident waiting to
happen”.

The junction was closed for nearly two-and-a-half hours by police yesterday while accident investigators went to work.

Gail Michie, 53, owner of Simpsons Florist on nearby West Preston Street, said: “That junction is really bad – it’s shocking, but it does not surprise me that this has
happened.

“There have been be so many accidents at this corner. Something needs to be done. Maybe there should be speed bumps down East Preston Street as there’s a school down there and the cars come down there at a hell of a rate.”

Franco Galgani, 63, owner of the Southside guest house on Newington Road, said: “I’m surprised something like this hasn’t happened before. It’s a very dangerous junction.

“You get all sorts of traffic coming down this stretch of road – it’s like a motorway. But you also have lots of students living nearby who treat it like a pedestrian area.

“They had 20mph speed restrictions on many of the side streets; why not have them here?

“For such a busy stretch of road, I think there should be a 20mph speed limit.”

Another resident, who did not want to be named, said: “That junction has been an accident waiting to happen and I’m surprised it wasn’t a cyclist as the cyclists are always cycling against the lights.

“There should be a filter at that junction.”

Councillor Jim Orr, SNP member for Southside and Newington, and the council’s deputy transport leader, said he asked for the junction to be examined.

“I was concerned to hear about this accident and have instructed the road safety team to find out the exact circumstances.

“Once they report back we will consider whether further safety measures are necessary at this junction.”

Ian Craig, managing director of Lothian Buses, said passengers were transferred to other vehicles following the accident, which took place at around 1.30pm.

He said the bus firm was helping police with the investigation.

He added: “We are aware of an incident that took place this afternoon involving a service 33 bus and a pedestrian at the junction of East Preston Street and South Clerk Street in Edinburgh.

“Lothian Borders Police and the ambulance service attended the scene. Unfortunately, the elderly pedestrian required further medical treatment and was taken to hospital.

“Lothian Buses takes such matters extremely seriously and is assisting Lothian and Borders Police to help determine the circumstances around this unfortunate event.

“Our thoughts are with the pedestrian and his family at this time.”

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