Family ‘lucky to be alive’ after double-decker bus smashes into their home

A family say they are lucky to be alive after a bus smashed into the front of their home. Parents Hayden and Kay Rich were in the lounge watching television, while their son Joshua was in his bedroom upstairs when a double-decker bus hit their home last night (December 15).

The trio say that if any of them had been in the kitchen making a cup of tea or using the downstairs toilet at the time of the incident the story would have been different. Today, having miraculously survived the crash, the Rich family were at their fenced-off three-bedroom detached home to inspect the damage and take away their belongings.

Electrician Hayden was with Kay watching TV drama Happy Valley in the lounge when he said ‘all hell broke loose’ as the bus smashed into the adjourning front bathroom, hallway and kitchen. “We didn’t know what had happened,” the 59-year-old told Bristol World.

“We were watching telly when we heard the initial crash which happened up by the traffic lights, then all hell broke loose. We then heard the huge crash as the bus hit our home and dust flew everywhere. Our two Dobermanns jumped up. The bus had just pased our vision and we couldn’t see where it had gone as the lounge door was shut - and when I tried to open it, I couldn’t because of the rubble behind it in the hallway.

“Luckily, a neighbour came out and pulled the rubble away from the front door and hallway so we could all escape. The whole thing was over in a flash.” He added: “If I was three metres away from where I had been sat we wouldn’t have been having this conversation today. We’ve had had it.”

Upstairs in his bedroom was their son, Joshua. The 27-year-old driver had returned from work and was in the back-facing room about to go to sleep when he heard the bus crash into the front of the home. “It was like an explosion, like a bomb going off - the house shook,” he said.

“I got out of the room and went down the stairs to check on my parents but rubble was blocking the way. A neighbour was quick to help and I was also able to get out. We are lucky to be alive.”

The family, who only moved into the house a year ago, were all checked over by paramedics, who also tended to the bus driver for minor cuts and a female passenger later taken to hospital. She is not believed to have suffered serious life-threatening or changing injuries.

Today, the Richs’ were back outside their home as neighbours also joined them to check they were unhurt. The front brickwork had come away while many windows and the front door were all missing. The kitchen appears to have taken the worst of the impact. Mr Rich said that the family were just revamping the kitchen with workspeople expected today to fit new worktops.

But for now the trio will stay with family and friends in the area. Asked when he thought he’d be back, Hayden said: “I’ve no idea - three months? Maybe. We just all feel very lucky right now - the house is insured and we’re here, safe.”

Avon and Somerset Police believe the bus was involved in collision with a VW Golf at the junction with King Georges Road before it left the road and hit the home. The driver fo the VW Golf fled the scene before the emergency services arrived - and is wanted for questioning by the force.

Police are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or have seen the driver of the Golf. Anyone with information shouldcall 101 and quote reference number 5222299943.