Open double-decker tour bus on fire in San Francisco

Double-decker sightseeing busses are known as a tourism attraction on its own in many cities.

Double-decker sightseeing busses are known as a tourism attraction on its own in many cities. In San Francisco, California, USA, five tourists were injured, one seriously, when their double-decker tour bus with an open top drove into a low-hanging phone wire Friday afternoon in San Francisco’s Richmond District, authorities and bus company officials said Monday.

The bus, run by Big Bus Tours, was traveling north on 12th Avenue toward the Golden Gate Bridge when it hit the wire between Anza and Balboa streets around 3:15 p.m., said Big Bus General Manager Andrew Smith.

“The wire hit the bus’ front windshield, popped up over the windshield, came back down and struck some people at the back of the bus,” said police Officer Tracy Turner, a department spokeswoman.

A 67-year-old woman was taken to San Francisco General Hospital with injuries to her face and head that were originally classified as life-threatening, Turner said. Smith said the woman left the hospital that night and took another bus tour with the company before flying home.

The other injured passengers – two men, 47 and 65, and two women, 61 and 69 – suffered cuts and bruises on their faces or hands, Turner said.

The bus driver had deviated from the company’s regular route to avoid traffic on the way to the bridge. He was taking a designated backup route along 12th Avenue when he struck the wire, Smith said.

“We have buses take that route all the time,” Smith said. “At least four or five buses passed through that same day before the wire.”

Smith said the wire had fallen down after becoming dislodged, leaving it in the path of the bus. She did not know who owned the wire.

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Avatar of Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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