Bus crashes into shop, 3 pedestrians injured, in Birkenhead, Auckland.
A man and two children were injured on a pedestrian crossing by a bus that then hurtled into the front of a Birkenhead computer store.
The man was the worst hurt, with shocked witnesses grabbing blankets from a nearby pet store to comfort him as he lay in the middleof the road.
A witness said the AT bus - which had passengers on board - crashed into Unitec's Free4U computer training facility in Birkenhead Ave, next door to the Tongue and Groove Cafe. Three students were in the facility at the time but were unhurt.
"It came across the side of the road, through a barrier and into the building. I am in shock. It is massive."
Allstar apprentice plumber Isaac, who was travelling in his van the opposite direction to the bus, said he had stopped for two adults and two kids aged under 10 at the pedestrian crossing.
"I saw the whole thing. [The bus] pulled straight from the bus stop [through the crossing]. I'm not sure if they hit the accelerator instead of the brake," Isaac said.
"It came out of nowhere. I was lucky not to get hit. If I had been 2 metres ahead I would've been hit directly on the driver's side."
There were quite a few passengers on the bus, he said.
"There was a loud noise, and then lots of screaming... and people were running into the cafes and shops. We gave them some of the pet blankets to keep the man warm."
The bus crashed through the store front window. Photo / Greg Bowker
The man was being treated in the middle of the road, with blankets covering him.
He was conscious, with his eyes open.
"The children are screaming and crying and they are being taken to the ambulance."
A woman who was with the trio was not injured.
"I have heard from people who are saying the driver may have pushed the accelerator rather than the brake... I'm not really sure. My husband said the bus was going very fast," Huang said.
