Pedestrian critically injured in Wellington after being hit by bus on Manners St

Emergency services have blocked off Manners St in central Wellington after a pedestrian was hit by a bus. Photo / Georgina Campbell

• Emergency services responded after a pedestrian was hit by a bus on Manners St at 4.40pm.
• Witnesses said people rushed to aid the critically injured man until ambulances arrived.
• Manners St is closed for a Serious Crash Unit investigation, with bus services diverted.

A witness says people rushed to the aid of a pedestrian critically injured after being hit by a bus in central Wellington.

Emergency services were called to Manners St at 4.40pm. Police said there was a collision between a bus and a pedestrian.

A witness said the pedestrian stepped out on to the road and they were hit.

Another witness said a member of the public rushed to administer first aid until ambulances arrived. The pedestrian was a man, the witness said.

A third witness said she heard a loud noise and saw the bus driver get out of the bus to check what had happened.

Emergency services have blocked off Manners St in central Wellington after a pedestrian was hit by a bus. Photo / Georgina Campbell

A double-decker bus was parked in the middle of Manners St with its hazard lights on.

About 10 police officers were at the scene, which was cordoned off with emergency tape.

Police officers were examining the front corner of the bus where passengers board. The bottom corner of the windscreen was cracked.

They then went inside the bus to continue their investigation.

A man wearing hi-vis could be seen checking the bus’ tyres.

“Part of Manners St will be closed to traffic and pedestrians while the Serious Crash Unit conducts a scene examination,” police said.

Wellington Free Ambulance confirmed to the Herald it transported one patient in a serious condition to Wellington Hospital.

All bus stops on Manners St were closed and services diverted during this evening’s peak commute time.

MetLink told the Herald its thoughts are with the bus driver and passengers, and the injured pedestrian.

“We are grateful to emergency services personnel who attended the scene,” a spokesperson said.

“Buses were diverted away from the area while the road emergency services carried out their duties.”

Georgina Campbell is a Wellington-based reporter who has a particular interest in local government, transport, and seismic issues. She joined the Herald in 2019 after working as a broadcast journalist.