Brighton: Woman hit by bus causing city traffic chaos

The collision in North Street brought city centre traffic to a standstill, trapping an ambulance transporting the injured woman on her way to the hospital.

A woman was reportedly hit by a bus "while crossing the road" this afternoon.

Police and paramedics responded to the scene at 12.20pm today after she was struck by a Big Lemon bus.

A police officer at the scene (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

Westbound traffic towards the Clock Tower was blocked while emergency services were on scene, causing traffic chaos as buses, taxis and cars queued up in both directions - taking turns to pass the incident.

An ambulance leaving the scene on blue lights was also caught up in the congestion as the driver was forced to turn off its sirens because it had nowhere to go.

Spots of blood were seen on the pavement (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

Police officers and an engineer from The Big Lemon, who owns the bus, were on scene to inspect the damage to the red Optare Solo bus.

It was taken out of service by operator The Big Lemon. A spokesman said: "The route 47 service to Hove Sainsburys from the Clock Tower - 1214-1254 - and from Sainsburys to Roedean Rd - 1305-1350 - will not be running due it being involved in an incident in North Street whilst on way to Hove Sainsburys.

"Sorry for any inconvenience caused."

The woman suffered a foot injury and was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital for further treatment, according to the South East Coast Ambulance Service.

An ambulance stuck in traffic while leaving the scene (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

The crash has led to renewed calls for North Street to be pedestrianised. A witness told The Argus: "There are too many vehicles coming down here. It needs to be pedestrianised."

According to online tool Crashmap, there have been eight collisions involving buses between 2020 and 2021.

An ambulance at the scene of the crash (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

A spokesman for Secamb said: "We were called to reports of a collision involving a bus and a pedestrian in North Street, Brighton, at approximately 12.20pm today. One ambulance crew attended and the female pedestrian was assessed for injuries including a foot injury before being taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital."

A spokesman for Sussex Police added: "Emergency services received a report of a collision involving a bus and a pedestrian in North Street, Brighton, at about 12.30pm on Wednesday, September 13.

"They remain at the scene while this incident is responded to."