A woman who witnessed a double decker bus carrying students crash into the River Itchen in Eastleigh, Hampshire says she felt like she was watching the action movie ‘Speed'.
Kelly West whose house backs onto the river told ITV News Meridian that she and her husband heard a screeching noise and looked out the window and saw the vehicle career off the road.
She said: “As I looked out the window, the bus came hurtling down the road and straight into the river, I mean fast, 60 miles per hour or more I would say.
“We ran round and spoke to the driver and he was saying that the accelerator was jammed and the brakes failed and he was just trying to avoid people along the main road.
19 passengers were on-board the Bluestar bus which was carrying students from Barton Peveril Sixth Form College.
Police say five people, including the bus driver, were taken to hospital for treatment with two of them in a serious but not life-threatening condition.
Around 14 people, with less serious injuries, were treated at the scene in Bishopstoke Road.
Mrs West said: “Kids at the top couldn't get down the stairs and there was somebody on the stairs that needed some help.
“There were a few downstairs that had a few more injuries but they couldn't get off the bus themselves.
“The bus driver was also stuck in his seat and couldn't get out.
“We were trying to get as many people off the bus as possible and calming them down. Parents started turning up for their kids and then air ambulances arrived.
“People were just panicking, shouting, screaming. Probably worried about what was going to happen to the bus next.”
Mrs West continued: “A couple of the kids said that as the bus was coming down the road, it just kept getting faster and faster and faster and it appeared that he [the driver] couldn't do anything about it.
“The panic obviously set in at that point but they were very relaxed considering what was going on. I think a lot were in a state of shock.
“My daughter was in the house with us as well so she went out to help a few of them and give hugs. A lot of them wanted to know that the bus driver was ok which is lovely.
“He was pleased that somebody was speaking to him. I asked him his name and I talked to him in a calm way and he tried to explain.
“Brakes, accelerator. That's just all he kept saying.”