A bus driver has died and 15 people have been injured in a crash involving two buses and a car.
Driver Kenneth Matcham, aged 60, died at the scene after the collision in Orpington, south-east London, on Thursday night.
The unnamed 24-year-old car driver was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and drug driving.
It is believed that three people sustained serious injuries, whilst the remaining 12 suffered minor injuries. The London Fire Brigade (LFB) sent 60 firefighters to the scene, which happened at around 2215hrs.
“Firefighters rescued several casualties from the buses and immediately undertook first aid, being joined by colleagues from London Ambulance Service,” LFB’s Assistant Commissioner Graham Ellis told the BBC.
TfL’s Director of Bus Operations, Claire Mann, offered the organisation’s condolences and sympathies to Mr Matcham’s family and confirmed they were working with the bus operator Go-Ahead and the Met Police to establish the cause, with counselling made available to those affected.
A witness told the BBC that he had heard a loud crash, and that one of the buses had gone into the front garden of a nearby house.
Detectives have appealed for any witnesses or anyone with dash cam, mobile phone or CCTV footage of the collision to contact them.
As a mark of respect, Go-Ahead London held a one-minute silence on Monday 4 November at 1100hrs. It asked its drivers to stop their bus if it was safe to do so to honour Kenneth’s memory. Other operators also took part in the one-minute silence.
Go-Ahead London has set up a just giving page for the family, which can be found here: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/kennethmatcham
