Three people were injured after a double-decker bus crashed near St Paul’s Cathedral in the City of London, causing traffic disruption and drawing a swift emergency response.
The incident occurred at around 2:25pm on Monday, 24 March 2025, when a Stagecoach No 25 bus veered off the road and collided with a flower bed outside a Co-op supermarket on Cheapside.
Emergency response and injuries
Emergency services rushed to the scene within minutes, with police, paramedics, and incident response teams attending to the injured.
According to London Ambulance Service (LAS), three people were treated at the crash site. One patient was taken to hospital, while two others were assessed and discharged at the scene.
An LAS spokesperson provided further details:
“We were called at 2.24pm today (March 24) to reports of a road traffic collision on Cheapside.
We sent resources to the scene, including an ambulance crew, an incident response officer, a cycle paramedic, and a paramedic in a fast response car.
Our first paramedics arrived in approximately four minutes.
We treated three people. One patient was taken to hospital, while two others were discharged at the scene.”
Police investigation and traffic disruption
The City of London Police confirmed they were investigating the incident.
Chief inspector james minney stated:
“City of London Police officers were at the scene of a road traffic collision on March 24, 2025, at around 2:26pm on Cheapside.
Three people were treated at the scene by London Ambulance Service; one person was taken to hospital.
The road heading northbound reopened at 3:30pm.
Investigations are ongoing.”
The crash caused significant disruption in the Square Mile, with police closing roads for approximately one hour to allow emergency services to manage the situation and clear the scene.
Eyewitness accounts and online footage
Footage shared on social media showed the red double-decker bus crushed against a flower bed, with debris scattered on the pavement outside the Co-op supermarket.
Eyewitnesses described hearing a loud bang, followed by passengers shouting inside the bus.
One bystander, Jessica Hall, 29, who was walking nearby at the time, said:
“I heard a massive crash and turned to see the bus wedged into the flower bed. People on the pavement stopped in shock, and a few rushed forward to check if everyone was okay.
The emergency services were here really quickly. Paramedics were attending to people, and police started blocking off the road immediately.”
Another witness, David Clarke, 45, a local office worker, said:
“Traffic was completely gridlocked for a while. The whole area was cordoned off, and it was causing quite a bit of chaos.”
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Ongoing investigation and next steps
Police have not yet confirmed the cause of the crash, and it remains unclear whether driver error, mechanical failure, or another factor played a role.
Authorities have urged anyone who witnessed the crash or has dashcam footage to come forward and assist with the investigation.
Stagecoach, the bus operator, has not yet issued an official statement regarding the condition of the driver or potential operational issues.
A history of safety concerns
The incident has reignited concerns about bus safety and traffic management in central London. The No 25 bus route, which runs between Ilford and Oxford Circus, is one of the busiest services in the capital, frequently operating in high-traffic areas.
In recent years, several high-profile bus accidents have prompted calls for stricter safety measures, including enhanced driver training and better vehicle maintenance checks.
Conclusion
While thankfully no fatalities occurred, the double-decker crash near St Paul’s Cathedral serves as a stark reminder of the importance of road safety in London’s busy streets.
Authorities will now work to determine the cause of the incident and whether any additional safety measures should be implemented to prevent similar accidents in the future.
