Elderly brothers killed by bus at Romford's Liberty shopping centre

 
Bus tragedy: the pair were killed near the Liberty shopping centre, Romford. Picture: Google Streetview
Anna Dubuis18 November 2013

Police were today appealing for witnesses after two elderly brothers were killed by a double-decker bus in front of crowds at a busy shopping centre.

Witnesses described the scenes of horror at the Liberty shopping centre in Romford where the two men, in their 60s, died at 2.20pm on Friday.

One said: “I was on the bus behind, crying and panicking, it was horrible. There were shopping bags scattered on the floor and I saw a woman who looked like she was close to the couple, crying and being spoken to by security.”

Another passenger said he heard a “bang” and felt a “thud”, adding: “verybody started panicking, saying ‘someone has been hurt.’”

Jade Stevens said: “It was horrific. Loads of school girls saw it and were crying their eyes out. I felt terrible for them.”

Shabbir Ahmad, whose brother owns Star Mini Cabs in Western Road, said: “At first I thought two cars had crashed, or a bus had hit another. When I heard screaming, I thought ‘no’.

“I quickly rushed outside and a lady said ‘oh no, they’re dead’.

“When I looked I saw the back end of the bus and there was lots of debris, bags and blood. People were running, crying and screaming.”

Mike Weston, Transport for London’s director of buses, said: “Our deepest sympathies go out to the family and friends of the two people who have tragically died today after a collision with a route 252 double deck bus, operated by Stagecoach, in Romford.

“We are assisting the Metropolitan Police with their investigation into this incident.”

The driver of the 252 bus was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and bailed until January pending further investigation.

* A 47-year-old female pedestrian was killed in a collision with a lorry on Friday in Roehampton, south London. The driver was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and bailed for further enquiries to be made.

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