A serious bus crash occurred on Monday in Eccles, Salford, when a double-decker bus struck the Bridgewater Canal Aqueduct on Barton Lane, tearing off its roof. According to Greater Manchester Police (GMP), one passenger was thrown from the top deck during the impact.

A 19-year-old woman and two men—one in his 20s and another in his 40s—sustained serious injuries and remain in hospital in stable condition. The driver, a man in his 50s, was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by careless driving and has been released on bail pending further inquiries.

Twelve other individuals were treated at the scene for injuries described as non-life-threatening or non-life-changing, while five additional passengers sustained minor injuries that did not require treatment.

Barton Lane has since been reopened. Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has launched an immediate investigation into the circumstances of the crash, including why the 100 service bus was not on its usual route. Officials confirmed that height restriction warnings, including signage and hanging chains, are in place near the bridge.

Transport Commissioner for Greater Manchester Vernon Everitt stated that authorities are working closely with GMP and the bus operator to understand what went wrong. He thanked emergency services for their swift response to the incident.

The road remained closed into Monday evening while the damaged bus was removed and diversions were in place.

The Bridgewater Canal management team expressed deep concern over the incident and extended wishes for a full recovery to all those affected. They also confirmed that an assessment is underway to determine whether the aqueduct structure was impacted. Coordination with Salford City Council is ongoing as part of efforts to establish the chain of events leading up to the crash.

This is not the first time such an incident has occurred—another bus collided with the same bridge in April 2023, also resulting in significant damage.