Passengers trapped after Montague Street bridge bus crash
Passengers were trapped for more than an hour after a bus smashed into the Montague Bridge.
All 17 passengers are now conscious and suffering mostly minor injuries such as cuts and abrasions.
The driver was seen crying with his head in his hands in a nearby gutter soon after the crash.
Firefighters working on the destroyed front of the bus. Photo: Pat Mitchell
The force of the crash peeled back the bus’s roof.
WATCH | The moment the bus slammed into the Montague St Bridge this morning. pic.twitter.com/XjwpdZOPZu
? 3AW Melbourne (@3AW693) February 22, 2016
MFB controller Andrew O’Connell said firefighters feared worse when they arrived at the scene.
‘The height of the rail bridge is just above their head height,’ he said.
‘It would’ve been absolutely terrifying for the passengers.
‘Thankfully they all ducked their heads and closed their eyes … I think that’s helped keep them remarkably uninjured.’
Click play to hear from the press conference
The bus involved is from the Ballarat-based Gold Bus company.
The Montage St bridge in South Melbourne is notorious for trapping oversized vehicles, especially trucks.
Rescue underway at Montague St #southmelbourne bus accident. Road closed to traffic. pic.twitter.com/hl0c6yTovA
? MFB (@MFB_NEWS) February 21, 2016
Shocking scene bus trapped under Montague St Bridge people still trapped inside injured lying nearby @7NewsMelbourne pic.twitter.com/jYljlrS1vs
? Michael Felgate (@MFelgate7) February 21, 2016
MFB firefighters on scene at major bus incident at Montague Street overpass, #SouthMelbourne. Multiple people trapped. Rescue underway.
? MFB (@MFB_NEWS) February 21, 2016