Drama on bus as driver has 'medical episode'
A CITYBUS driver was taken to hospital after his bus narrowly escaped tipping into a stream swollen by heavy rain.
Police and paramedics were called after a Citybus came off the road by the Texaco garage in Plympton Road at around 12.10pm yesterday.
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NARROW ESCAPE: Police and staff from Citybus at the scene, with the bus overhanging a swollen Tory Brook
The bus mounted the kerb and came to a stop with its right front wheel over a gully which contains Tory Brook, which runs into the nearby River Plym.
Police said the driver of the number 21 bus which runs to Chaddlewood via Plympton, suffered "a medical episode" shortly before the bus came to its precarious position.
Paramedics from the South Western Ambulance Service said the man's condition was neither life-threatening nor life-changing, but he was taken to Derriford Hospital as a precaution.
A pregnant woman who was a passenger on the bus was also checked by paramedics as a precaution.
A spokesman for the road policing team said the bus was unlikely to have continued down into the gully as it was travelling at a reasonable speed and trees would have prevented it's decline.
The spokesman said the road was briefly close as a safety precaution while the bus was recovered.
A spokesman for Citybus confirmed a driver was taken to Derriford Hospital where his condition was said to be "fine".
The spokesman said: "Fortunately no-one was injured during the incident. We would like to thank the emergency services for their help and the passengers for their patience and calm response."
15 Comments
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by Mick, Barbican
Wednesday, December 09 2009, 12:56AM
“S. quote- "To Mick if you knew anything about these bus driver you would know they do have medicals"
Well why is there a picture of a bus in the ditch because the driver blacked out?”
by s, plymouth
Tuesday, December 08 2009, 11:43PM
“To Mick if you knew anything ab out these bus driver you would know they do have medicals. In regards to " until next time" have any idea how many bus drivers are attacked by yobs trying to steal the days takings, spat at by passengers who want to cheat the system, beer thrown at them because the driver wont let them get on with an open can, have there wages docked because they have been short changed by the nice people of Plymouth and get daily verble abuse because the driver wont let people travel for free. If you can call it free, if a driver is caught with a non paying traveller he is likely to lose his job, no wonder the get stressed. So when you get on a bus don't just see a bus driver see them as tax paying hard working person who has the same bills as you and only wants to provide for there family and give them the respect the deserve. A bus drivers wife”
by lordie, plymouth
Tuesday, December 08 2009, 11:29PM
“iam just glad no one was injured, and iam sure citybus drivers do have to have a strict medical with any condition, and i am sure it be the same with a taxi or any driving jobs, and any person can become unwell whilst driving”
by s.. plymouth, plymouth
Tuesday, December 08 2009, 11:20PM
“yes you can drive a bus or lorry with a pacemaker check with dvla on medical condition, so check it out”
by Mick, Barbican
Tuesday, December 08 2009, 10:33PM
“Quote- "A spokesman for Citybus said the drivers condition was "fine".
Until the next time.
Citybus better give him a thorough medical exam pronto right now to cover themselves..”
by d, river, plymouth
Tuesday, December 08 2009, 10:24PM
“i heard the driver had a pace maker fitted and this is what caused his "medical episode" should you be driving a bus with a pace maker??
it could of been a lot worse glad the pregnant lady is ok”
by Dave, Plymouth
Tuesday, December 08 2009, 10:08PM
“I am the husband of the pregnant lady on the bus. I just wanted to say thank you to ALL of those who helped my wife on Monday. I am so relieved that everyone is ok and I realise now more than ever how lucky I am. Baby seems to be ok and my three year old who was also on the bus has not been affected by any of this. Thanks again.”
by Crater Kid, Hooe.
Tuesday, December 08 2009, 9:23PM
“Yes, and I shall be participating in an alcohol related 'episode' this friday night!
Good job the pregnant lady didn't have a giving birth 'episode', eh?”
by Daz, Plymouth
Tuesday, December 08 2009, 2:32PM
“Well I am sure that we cannot blame privatisation on this accident!!
The weather contributed to this and we should be thankful that everyone is ok and that it was not the disaster that it could have been!”
by Vor, somewhere nice
Tuesday, December 08 2009, 2:31PM
“Tory Brook, TORY Brook, I blame David Cammerooooon and his Eton upbringing.
Yet another reason to return Gordon Brown to power!!”