Man critically injured as bus crashes into scaffolding near Gillingham High Street

Numerous emergency services were dispatched after a bus collided with scaffolding around a new building. The incident, which also involved a car, occurred on Jeffery Street in Gillingham town centre around 4:30 pm.

The road was closed in both directions from James Street to Skinner Street as police, fire crews, and paramedics worked to secure the scene. Photos from the scene show an Arriva bus lodged in scaffolding surrounding a building site near the public car park at the junction with James Street.

The site, once home to the Dog and Bone pub, which closed in January 2018, is being converted into flats. In 2019, permission was granted to demolish the pub and construct a four-story building with a shop, restaurant, and 24 apartments.

Resident Bob Donkin, who was walking down the high street at the time, heard the collision and captured a photo of the aftermath.

Another eyewitness told KentOnline, “A bus seems to have crashed into a development, damaging the scaffolding around the four-story building. There’s debris in the road, and the bus looks damaged on the driver’s side.”

Meanwhile, a resident living across from the scene heard about the incident from his mother. “She called and said, ‘Oh, there’s been a crash outside again,'” he recalled. “I was at work, and I had to rush back to find out what was happening.”

A fire service spokesperson confirmed that crews were called shortly after 4:30 pm. “One fire engine attended, and crews ensured the scene was safe due to the impact on the building’s scaffolding,” they said.

A police spokesperson added, “We were called to a collision involving a bus and a car. A police officer attended and assisted with traffic management at the scene.”

The ambulance service confirmed that there were no serious injuries.

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