A nine-year-old girl is fighting for her life in hospital after a London bus smashed into both her and her five-year-old brother.
Police have arrested the male bus driver at the scene in Bexleyheath, south east London, who remains in custody.
The girl was rushed by ambulance to hospital, where she is being treated for ‘life-threatening injuries’. Her brother was also taken to hospital as a precaution.
The siblings were accompanied by a family member at the time of the incident, which happened on Watling Street near the junction with Halcot Avenue.
Their family is receiving support from officers, and police cordons have been put in place as the incident scene is investigated.
A nine-year-old girl is fighting for her life in hospital after being run down by a London bus in Bexleyheath
The girl and her five-year-old brother have both been taken to hospital following the incident this morning on Watling Street near Halcot Avenue
Officers are appealing for witnesses of the collision, which occurred early on Saturday morning.
The incident involved a route 99 bus operated by Arriva London.
A statement from the Metropolitan Police said: ‘At 09.05hrs on Saturday, 3 August, police were called to a bus in collision with two children on Watling Street near the junction with Halcot Avenue, Bexleyheath.
‘A nine year-old girl was taken to hospital by ambulance. Her injuries are being treated as life-threatening.
‘A five year-old boy was taken to hospital as a precaution.
A police cordon remains in place at the scene as police investigate the incident, as officers arrested the male bus driver, who remains in custody
‘The children are siblings who were with a family member at the time of the collision. Officers are providing support to their family.
‘The male driver of the bus was arrested. He has been taken into police custody where he remains.’
Rosie Trew, TfL’s head of bus service delivery, said: ‘Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the children involved in a bus collision in Bexley today.
‘This will be a distressing time for their family and we have support available for anyone affected. We are supporting the police and the bus operator Arriva’s urgent investigation into what happened.’
Anyone with information should call 101 quoting reference 2309/03Aug.
