Man taken to hospital after collision involving two buses in Stonehouse

Dec 30 2010 Hamilton Advertiser

AN elderly man had to be cut free after an accident involving two buses in Stonehouse.

It happened at 3pm last Thursday in Lockhart Street when a single-decker packed with passengers collided with a smaller Mercedes bus that was parked and straddling the kerb.

It is understood there were no passengers on the smaller bus.

Passengers on the other bus, operated by Whitelaw’s Coaches, were showered with glass.

Some of them said the driver of the Whitelaw’s bus may have been blinded by low sun.

The injured man, aged 79 and from Stonehouse, was sitting on the Whitelaw’s bus – near the point of impact.

He was trapped by the door of the bus and twisted handrails.

He had to be freed by firefighters before being taken to hospital suffering from a serious injury to his leg.

Two fire appliances, two ambulances and a number of police cars had raced to the scene following reports of the collision.

Police, who have appealed for witnesses, say a 26-year-old Strathaven man is to be reported to the fiscal for alleged driving offences.

One of the passengers on the Whitelaw’s bus was 82-year-old Christina McInnes, of McLean Gardens, Stonehouse.

She was returning home with her friend, former Law Hospital sister Mary Morris (70), of Union Street, Stonehouse, after Christmas shopping in Hamilton.

Mrs McInnes, who has had three heart attacks and earlier this year underwent knee replacement surgery, suffered an angina attack following the crash.

However, she declined hospital treatment and later told the Advertiser that the crash was a “frightening experience.”

She said: “We were sitting near the front of the (Whitelaw’s) bus on the driver’s side. The bus was almost full.

“As we came into Stonehouse there was an almighty bang.

“I never heard such a crunching sound in my life.

“Next thing, the door and side widow next to it came in.

“Bits of glass from the window came down like a shower. Everyone on the bus started shouting.

“We put our heads down to save our faces and had bits of glass in our hair and shopping bags.

“A man opposite, who was sitting in the high seat next to the door, looked to have been badly hurt.

“He was trapped beneath the door, which had been pushed in, and the handrails, and was unconscious for a time.

“I took an angina attack and was told by the paramedics to stay on the bus, but later felt alright and went home.”

Passengers described the driver of the Whitelaw’s bus as in “deep shock” following the accident.

One said: “The accident happened when the sun was low in the sky and blinding as you came into the village.

“It was made worse by the sub-zero temperatures.

“Apparently, the driver tried to use his washers to clear his windscreen but they were frozen.”

Whitelaw’s Coaches, based at Loch Park Industrial estate, Larkhall, were asked for comment but failed to respond.