Title: Serious Accident on Cambridgeshire Busway Highlights Safety Concerns
Content:
In a distressing occurrence near Cambridge, eleven people were taken to hospital following a collision involving a fire engine and two guided buses. The incident occurred on the B1050 Station Road at the Northstowe junction with the Busway around 14:00 BST on Wednesday. After an extensive investigation, the road was reopened on Thursday morning, and normal Busway services have recommenced. Those who witnessed the event have articulated the scene as ‘particularly distressful’.
The fire engine, on its way to a different incident, transported three firefighters, with two of them experiencing minor injuries. One firefighter was admitted to hospital as a precaution but has since been discharged. Emergency assistance was prompt, involving four ambulances, three Hazardous Area Response Team vehicles, two paramedic cars, and helicopters from East Anglian Air Ambulance and Magpas.
Safety concerns have been brought into sharp focus as local onlooker Ian Missen identified rapid changes in traffic lights at the Northstowe guided busway, suggesting a higher risk for further accidents. This incident is further complicated by the recent imposition of a £6m fine on the council for safety breaches following three fatalities on the Busway, which links Cambridge, Huntingdon, and St Ives. Judge Mark Bishop at a crown court hearing emphasised the council’s insufficient response to these safety dilemmas.
Adapted from original reporting found on www.bbc.com by The Lincoln Post.
