Victims of two serious bus crashes that took place days before Christmas have launched a bid to sue Stagecoach and First Bus.
A total of 16 people were left injured after double-decker buses crashed into railway bridges in Glasgow and Kilmarnock, just days apart.
Emergency services were called to Cook Street in the Tradeston area of Glasgow after a First Bus crashed into a railway bridge on December 14.
Eight passengers were injured in the collision, including one person in critical condition.
The roof of the bus was torn off in the crash on a one-way street.
Five days later a Stagecoach bus crashed into a railway bridge on Culzean Crescent in Kilmarnock on December 19.
Eight passengers were injured, including a number of school children.
A 34-year-old man has since been charged in connection with a road traffic offence.
In both incidents it appeared the drivers involved took a wrong turn.
Images from the Kilmarnock crash site show the wrecked bus, with its roof lying in the middle of the road on the other side of the bridge.
Schoolchildren were pictured on top of the upper deck of the vehicle shortly after the smash.
Eyewitness Ronnie Smith told how residents rushed out of their homes to aid stricken passengers. The 51-year-old told the Record: “I had just walked under the bridge with my dog and as we entered a nearby park I heard an almighty bang.
“I turned around and saw the bus crashing through the tunnel. The whole roof was sliced off.
“I ran back across the road to see if anyone was injured. A few of the passengers were suffering from shock.
“Neighbours began running out to help people on board and brought towels out for injuries.”
Patrick McGuire, a partner with Thompsons, said: “This was truly the nightmare before Christmas for the victims involved. Multiple passengers were injured, some very seriously.
“The Cook Street crash in particular is shocking. Our specialist team who have dealt with several crashes of this kind have already been contacted over both incidents and we have opened cases against the companies involved. For crashes of this kind to continue to happen is utterly unacceptable and the travelling public deserve so much better.”
In February 2017, Thompsons represented the families of children injured in a school bus crash in Cumbernauld. In May 2018, the firm pursued legal action on behalf of victims of a serious bus accident on the Clydeside Expressway. In both cases, Thompsons secured very substantial damages for the injured.
The Record has approached Stagecoach and First Bus for comment.
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