Tree branch pierces Arriva bus travelling from Maidstone to Tunbridge Wells

Tree branch pierces Arriva bus travelling from Maidstone to Tunbridge Wells

News Hour

Shocking pictures show the moment a tree branch pierced the window and roof of a bus.

The collision happened with a number seven double-decker, which runs from Maidstone to Tunbridge Wells.

A huge tree branch pierced through a double-decker bus headed for Tunbridge Wells. Picture: Mick Gould Commercials LtdA huge tree branch pierced through a double-decker bus headed for Tunbridge Wells. Picture: Mick Gould Commercials Ltd
A huge tree branch pierced through a double-decker bus headed for Tunbridge Wells. Picture: Mick Gould Commercials Ltd

Emergency recovery service, Mick Gould Commercials Ltd, were called out to the incident and shared the photos.

“In this particular incident, an unsafe tree/branch found its way in through the front of this double-decker,” a post on the business’ Facebook page explained yesterday.

“The bus was on its correct route and whilst we were dealing with recovery, several others went past.

“The bus company should be able to operate their equipment without these kinds of risks etc.

“Fortunately, it was later in the evening and there were only a few passengers dotted around.

Images show how the branch shot through the top half of the vehicle. Picture: Mick Gould Commercials LtdImages show how the branch shot through the top half of the vehicle. Picture: Mick Gould Commercials Ltd
Images show how the branch shot through the top half of the vehicle. Picture: Mick Gould Commercials Ltd
It went through the window and into the roof of the bus. Picture: Mick Gould Commercials LtdIt went through the window and into the roof of the bus. Picture: Mick Gould Commercials Ltd
It went through the window and into the roof of the bus. Picture: Mick Gould Commercials Ltd

“Had it been during the peak hours, the implications do not bear thinking about.

“Miraculously, no one was actually sitting in the path of the branch.”

Their post, which has been shared more than 300 times, also called for the local public authorities and government to improve the safety and maintenance of the road infrastructure.

It said: “If you look back at certain stretches of road 50+ years ago and then look at these same stretches today – more often than not you will see that the vegetation has multiplied to such a degree that in many places, you cannot even keep to your own side of the road.

“We have more sophisticated equipment than we had previously, we are allegedly more safety conscious and so on.

Nobody was injured from the incident. Picture: Mick Gould Commercials LtdNobody was injured from the incident. Picture: Mick Gould Commercials Ltd
Nobody was injured from the incident. Picture: Mick Gould Commercials Ltd
An emergency rescue vehicle was called. Picture: Mick Gould Commercials LtdAn emergency rescue vehicle was called. Picture: Mick Gould Commercials Ltd
An emergency rescue vehicle was called. Picture: Mick Gould Commercials Ltd

“It’s a very sad state of affairs.

“The public authorities/government bodies are the only ones who are truly responsible and who have the authority to change this dire situation.”

Mick Gould Commercials Ltd and Arriva have been contacted for more information about the incident.

>