Girl, nine, hit by bus fights for life as ‘drug’ driver arrested in south London

A girl aged nine is fighting for life and her younger brother injured after they were hit by a bus on a family stroll in south east London.

Police were called to the collision on Watling Street, near the junction with Halcot Avenue, Bexleyheath just after 9am on Saturday.

The male driver of the No 99 bus was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury through dangerous and drug-driving.

He has been taken into police custody where he remains. Paramedics took the two children to hospital by ambulance.

The girl’s injuries are being treated as life-threatening, the Metropolitan Police said.

The five-year-old boy was taken to hospital as a precaution.

A Scotland Yard spokesperson added: “The children are siblings who were with a family member at the time of the collision.

“Officers are providing support to their family.”

Detectives appealed for witnesses to come forward.

London Ambulance Service said: “We were called at 8.59am today (August 3) to reports of a road traffic collision in Watling Street, Bexleyheath.

“We sent a number of resources to the scene, including a fast response car, ambulance crew and incident response officer. The first crew were on scene within four minutes.

“One nine-year-old girl was taken to a major trauma center, and a five-year-old was cared for at the scene.”

Rosie Trew, Transport for London’s head of bus service delivery, said: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the children involved in a bus collision in Bexley today.

“This will be a distressing time for their family and we have support available for anyone affected.

“We are supporting the police and the bus operator, Arriva’s, urgent investigation into what happened.”

Anyone with information who is yet to speak with police are asked to call 101, quoting reference 2309/03Aug.