THE road between Downend and Frenchay was blocked for more than three hours after a double-decker bus carrying school pupils got stuck trying a “crazy” manoeuvre.
The Eurocoaches 427 service from Frenchay to Winterbourne Academy ended up stuck across Cleeve Wood Road near Cleeve Bridge shortly after 8am on December 3, after reversing into the turning for Cleeve Wood Park and getting lodged on the roadside embankment.
The driver is understood to have been attempting a three-point turn after going in the wrong direction from Frenchay, driving towards Downend instead of the ring road.
Police, ambulances and two fire crews were called, and helped to ensure all children were safely escorted from the scene. A fire service spokesperson confirmed that no one was injured.
A school spokesperson said the children were picked up by another bus sent by the company, and arrived at the secondary school at 9.45am.
The road was closed until after 11.30am as the vehicle was recovered, causing long delays as other drivers had to turn around and find alternative routes.
One parent who lives nearby went to the scene after receiving a text from his daughter, who was on the bus.
He said: “They felt a huge bump but thankfully they were all wearing seat belts.
“The emergency services were exceptional. Within minutes there were three ambulances at the top of Cleeve Road, just in case anyone was injured. There were also two fire engines with fire crew right on the scene, trying to sort out the situation.
“The driver made a terrible mistake. It was a crazy idea in a double decker bus, packed full of children and teenagers.
“You would not try to turn a car around in this space – the road is too narrow and there’s a tight corner very near – other drivers have very little time to see you.
“He hit the bank with a huge amount of force, because it’s at least a metre high off the road and he reversed up the bank and kept on going back so he could turn the vehicle around. He could have continued on Cleeve Road and turned left and he would have joined the Ring Road.”
The dad, who asked not to be named, said the students hadn’t seen the driver on the route before, and he “looked terrible” as he waited for the bus to be recovered.
Eurocoaches director William Sanzo said the company had no comment to make on the incident.