A quick-witted bus driver has been hailed a hero after blocking a stolen van as it fled from police through the streets of London.
The woman behind the wheel of the red double-decker brought the police chase to a dramatic finale in a pile-up crash in Sidcup, south east London on Saturday afternoon.
Several cars were hit by the fleeing suspect’s pick-up truck, at shortly before 12.40 pm.
Witness Tracey Emmerton told the Standard the truck, which was carrying household goods including a mattress, was speeding along both sides of road to evade the police.
Ms Emmerton, whose own car was narrowly missed in the crash, said: “The truck was using both sides of the road. I have no idea why it was being chased.
“It seems the bus driver pulled in front of the van to stop it and then it was blocked either side by the police cars.
“It looked like the police had someone in the back of the car when we passed and I think they were giving some first aid.”
Ms Emmerton added: “The bus driver had potentially saved a few lives, who knows what the [van] driver would have done next.”
She added: “So many cars written off and [the suspect] could have killed someone.”
After the bus collided with the stolen car, the suspect is thought to have jumped from his truck and tried to flee. He was detained by police.
A spokesman for the Met said: “Police began an authorised pursuit of a suspected stolen vehicle that failed to stop for officers at approximately 12:38hrs on Saturday.
“During the course of the pursuit, the vehicle suspect vehicle collided with a number of stationary vehicles.
“A male was detained in the Blackfen Road area after decamping from the vehicle following a road traffic collision.”
No one was reported to have been hurt in the crash, police said.
