Olivia DemetriadesBBC News, London
Seventeen people have been injured after a bus mounted a pavement in central London.
Emergency services, including London’s Air Ambulance, were called to Victoria Street, near Victoria Station, at about 08:20 BST.
Fifteen people were taken to hospital, including the bus driver, while two others were treated at the scene. None have life-threatening injuries, the Met Police said.
Nathan Cefai, 28, from Clapham, told the BBC he was walking to work when he spotted the bus, which had a “huge amount of black smoke” coming from its rear. He said the bus picked up speed, turned a corner, and then he heard “a massive bang”.
PA MediaThe front of the route 24 bus, which was heading towards Hampstead Heath, was damaged, with its windscreen smashed.
A trail of diesel running down Allington Street has caused police to ban smoking in the area over fears of a fire.
Officers remain at the scene and the force has appealed for witnesses to contact them. No arrests have been made.
‘People were screaming’
Another eyewitness Emit Suker, 47, said: “[The bus] was coming from Westminster – it was going really fast and came off the road.
“There were about 15, 16 people inside the bus. People were screaming – it was terrible.”
Another eyewitness said: “I heard a massive crash, came outside and there was a woman on the floor with loads of people around her.
“Lots of people from the gym had run out to help her.”
Rosie Trew, TfL’s head of bus service delivery, said: “Our thoughts are with the people who have been injured following a bus incident at Victoria Street.
“We are working with the police and the operator, Transport UK, to urgently investigate this incident.”
Det Ch Supt Christina Jessah, who leads policing in the area, said: “We understand this incident will have been very distressing to all those involved and injured and we have begun an investigation.
“We are working closely with our partners to clear the scene but the road will remain closed for the next few hours so please seek alternative routes.”
