Keighley crash: Residents speak of shock after A629 school bus smash

The smash, which has caused severe damage to the front end of the yellow bus, led to the lengthy closure of the A629 route between Silsden roundabout and the Hard Ings roundabout in Keighley.

The crash happened shortly before 9am today near the point where the Parker's Lane bridge crosses the A629, in the Utley area of Keighley. Walkers passing over the bridge were quick to send their best wishes to the driver and his family.

A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police said: "Emergency services were called to the A629 between Silsden roundabout and Hard Ings roundabout at about 8.57am today to a report of a collision between a bus and a tractor.

"The male driver on the bus received serious injuries and emergency services remain at the scene.

"Road closures are in place nearby and drivers are urged to avoid the area."

Police added that the driver's injuries were not thought to be life-threatening.

A wider view of the crash scene near Utley in Keighley (Image: T&A)

A spokesperson for the Yorkshire Ambulance Service said: "We received an emergency call just before 9am this morning to a report of a collision on the A629 near Keighley.

"A number of resources were dispatched to the scene, including two ambulances, an air ambulance and a hazardous response team."

"These resources are still at the scene."

The man, a bus driver for The Keighley Bus Company, was taken to hospital, but one of his colleagues who was on the bus at the time of the crash was not injured.

A spokesperson for The Keighley Bus Company said: "We can confirm that one of our vehicles was involved in a collision at around 8.57am, on the A629 between the Silsden roundabout and the Hard Ings roundabout.

"A male bus driver and one other member of our staff were on the bus at the time. No customers were on board when the incident occurred.

"The bus driver was taken to hospital, while his colleague was unhurt. We are of course co-operating fully with the police in their investigations into this incident.

"All our thoughts are with our driver and his family at this time."

The extent of the damage to the front of the bus is clear to see in this image (Image: T&A)

Local residents and councillors sent their well-wishes to the injured bus driver.

One woman said: "It's horrible. I saw the air ambulance land at the scene.

"It's so sad. Going to work and this happens.

"Bless him. Hopefully, it's a good outcome for him and his family."

Another resident said: "It's heart-breaking and so sad. I just hope he's ok.

Cllr Doreen Lee (Lab, Keighley East) added: "I'm terribly sorry that someone's been injured."

Another woman said: "It's terrifying. I can't imagine it.

"If somebody has been seriously hurt in this crash, it's pretty upsetting."

A man who lives locally told the Telegraph & Argus: "We were coming home from Silsden going to Keighley when we drove past. There was a load of glass on the road.

"We had to slow down. There were people in hi-vis jackets making it safe.

"It must have only just happened. I was taking the little one to school."

The tractor involved in the crash also remained at the scene for several hours (Image: T&A)

A number of residents also spoke about the traffic which was diverted from Hard Ings roundabout onto Skipton Road through Utley.

Traffic travelling to Keighley was also diverted onto Skipton Road and queues were lengthy throughout the day.

"It's been horrendous," said one resident.

Another said: "We had to find a way around. They were diverting traffic towards Airedale Hospital."

One onlooker said shortly after the crash: "It's blocked off from the roundabout (Hard Ings).

"Traffic is chaotic all the way round. Lorry drivers are trying to talk to the police, which is then blocking lanes on the roundabout "It's busy from the centre of Keighley out towards the roundabout."

The A629 carriageway from Keighley to Silsden reopened just after midday, but dropped to one lane near the scene of the crash at around mid-afternoon.

However, the A629 from Silsden to Keighley remained closed into the evening rish hour and police continued to carry out their investigations at the scene.  

Diverted traffic from the Silsden roundabout continued to travel on Skipton Road through Utley. 

A line of queueing traffic trying to get into Keighley was backed up through Utley around mid-afternoon.