Royal Mile injured man ‘may have been hit by taxi’

Police investigate at the scene of the accident. Pic: Ian Georgeson

The 22-year-old was taken to hospital after the incident near the Radisson hotel shortly after 9am.

Officers said they were still trying to establish how the man was injured and could not confirm he had been hit by a car.

However, Danny Briggs, 21, who had been going up the Royal Mile on the number 35 bus, told the Evening News he witnessed a young man being struck.

Police closed a portion of the Royal Mile. Picture: Julie Bull

He said: “It was around 8.55am and I was sat on the driver’s side of the bus. I looked out and I saw a guy waving to someone, looking away from the road.

“He was walking towards the bus and I thought he was going to walk into the bus. But before he got to that side a black cab hit him. There was a loud noise - he fell to the floor and from what I could see he was unconscious.”

Mr Briggs, added: “The bus was stationary for several seconds. The taxi braked and stopped.”

A road collision investigation unit cordoned off the street from South Bridge to St Mary’s Street, before the road was reopened at around 11.30am.

A police spokeswoman said: “Police in Edinburgh were called to the High Street after a man sustained injuries. He was taken to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for assessment, where his injuries were found to be minor.

“Officers are working to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident. Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101.”