Thirteen people are injured after 3 double-decker buses crash in London's Parliament Square

Three new red double-decker buses were smashed after they collided in London's Parliament Square, leaving 13 people injured.

The accident, which included the three new 'Boris buses' and a van, happened on Victoria Street just after 2.30pm

Emergency services, a paramedic, four ambulances and the hazardous response team were called to the scene. 

With their lights flashing, emergency vehicles blockaded the area while the scene was dealt with. 

Before emergency services arrived, 35 people had evacuated the buses. 

One man with a suspected spinal injury was transported to hospital, according to the London Fire Brigade. 

No one was trapped or reported as seriously injured and some people who were hurt were treated at the scene, but traffic was brought to a grinding halt.  

About two hours after the incident, the London Ambulance Service Resilience Team tweeted that all patients had left the area.

Tony Akers, Transport for London's head of bus operations, said: 'At 1435 today, three new Routemaster buses on routes 148, 211 and 24, operated by London United, Abellio, and Metroline respectively, and a van were involved in a collision at the junction of Parliament Square and Broad Sanctuary.'

People on Twitter advised others to avoid the area.

User @DanLove72 tweeted: 'All happening at #parliamentsquare best avoid the area!'

Elizabeth Wright tweeted: 'Big bus crash on #parliamentsquare and top of #victoriastreet avoid if you can. Hope everyone is ok!

In a statement the fire brigade said: 'Thirteen people suffered minor injuries and were treated by London Ambulance Service while around 35 other passengers left the three buses before the Brigade arrived.

'Three fire engines, a fire rescue unit and around 21 firefighters and officers from Soho, Lambeth, Euston and Shoreditch fire stations attended the incident.

'The Brigade was called at 1449 and the incident was over by 1533.'  

The buses involved were the new Routemasters or ‘Boris buses’ which were launched in 2012.

On busy central routes the buses often run with a conductor who supervise the rear ‘hop on, hop off’ platform.

The buses use the latest green diesel-electric hybrid technology.

In test conditions they produced just half the carbon dioxide of conventional diesel buses.

However the buses came under fire last summer over concerns about their air-cooling systems, which have led to an announcement that they will be fitted with opening windows.

The accident is being investigated by Transport for London. 

Daily Mail

Picture Credit--Tom Nichoolson