Bus driver ‘critical’ after crash involving fire engine on emergency call and two guided buses in South Cambridgeshire

The driver of a guided bus involved in a collision with a fire engine on an emergency call and another guided bus near Northstowe is in a critical condition, it has been confirmed, as more details of the crash emerge.

The 44-year-old woman, from Gedney Hill, Spalding, suffered serious injuries in the incident on the B1050 Station Road, where it crosses the guided busway, at about 2pm yesterday (Wednesday, 16 April).

Ten others were taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge with minor injuries. The ambulance service said 19 people were injured in total.

Police have now issued an appeal for witnesses as they investigate how the collision happened. No arrests have been made.

The fire engine was responding to an emergency call and was travelling north when it was in collision with a single-decker Stageacoach bus travelling towards St Ives.

Another single-decker Stagecoach bus travelling in the opposite direction was also involved in the collision and it was the driver of this bus who remains in a critical condition.

Det Insp Garry Webb said: “This was a major collision which has seen numerous people left injured.

“I would like to hear from anyone who has yet to speak to officers about the collision.”

Four ambulances, three hazardous area response team vehicles, two paramedic cars, the East Anglian Air Ambulance, the Magpas air ambulance, fire crews and police attended the scene and the busway was closed in both directions. It has since reopened.

An East of England Ambulance Service spokesperson told the Cambridge Independent: “Four patients were transported to Addenbrooke’s Hospital by ambulance (one with serious injuries). Fifteen other patients with less serious injuries, including children, were assessed at the scene and, of those, seven were transported to Addenbrooke’s Hospital.”

An East Anglian Air Ambulance spokesperson added: “A crew from Anglia Two (Cambridge) attended a multi-vehicle road traffic collision. They assisted the East of England Ambulance Service, Magpas Air Ambulance, fire and rescue service and police with the management of the incident and delivered pre-hospital critical care to one of the most seriously injured patients before accompanying them to Addenbrooke’s Hospital for ongoing treatment.”

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “Just after 2pm a fire engine was involved in a road traffic collision with a guided bus on Station Road in between Longstanton and Willingham.

“The fire engine, with the rescue vehicle, was on its way to an incident. Three firefighters were on the fire engine. Two sustained minor injuries, one of whom was taken to hospital for a precautionary check and has since been released.

“Other crews arrived at the scene and worked with ambulance colleagues to release the driver of one of the guided buses who was left in the care of paramedics.”

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire County Council, which manages the busway, said: “Following the road traffic collision at the crossroads on the B1050 Station Road, Northstowe yesterday (Wednesday, 16 April), the road and the guided busway have both reopened.

“An assessment of the road and the busway was carried out at 6am today (Thursday, 17 April). The guided busway safely reopened at 7am.

“We continue to work with the emergency services, and the bus operator.”

A spokesperson for bus operator Stagecoach East told the Cambridge Independent: “Our first thoughts are for the welfare of those affected by the incident. Safety is our absolute priority and we will carry out a full investigation into the circumstances as well as assisting police with their inquiries.”

The crash came on the day the county council was fined £6million after decade-long safety failures on the guided busway until late 2021, which led to the deaths of three adults and serious injuries to two children in a series of incidents. It pleaded guilty to two offences under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 relating to failing to protect the public at crossing points and while travelling alongside the busway.

Anyone with information on Wednesday’s collision or dashcam footage of the collision should report it through the force website using reference CC-16042025-0279. Anyone without internet access should call 101.