Gillgate reopens after crash involving van and bus

Gillygate reopened at 9.10am after the crash at 6.15 this morning (Friday, October 18).

As The Press reported, the crash closed the road between Bootham and Lord Mayor's Walk so the single-decker electric First bus could be recovered.

North Yorkshire Police said there were no injuries. 

"Gillygate reopened at 9.10am to allow the recovery of a bus," a force spokesperson said. "The minor, non-injury collision also involved a cyclist at around 6.15am."

Photographs from the scene show the windscreen of the bus smashed and the bonnet of the van open at the Bootham end of the street. 

The bus and van after the crash in Gillygate on Friday morning (Image: Newsquest) The van is believed to belong to Simon Baynes Wholesale.

A company spokesperson wrote on Facebook: "Just a quick update, a bus has hit us head on in Gillygate this morning, drivers are ok, just waiting for recovery to bring the van back to depot, problem is it’s full of orders so they might be slightly late this morning, sorry for the inconvenience."

A First York spokesperson said the driver of the number 6 bus had to take "immediate action" to avoid a fallen cyclist. 

“There were no reports of any injuries and we will assist the police with its investigation into the circumstances that led to the incident," they said.

Fire crews and paramedics were called to the scene.

"All persons were safe and well and in care of ambulance staff. Crews made vehicles safe and left incident in hands of police," a North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said.

Gillygate resident Sean Atkinson told The Press he heard the crash from his flat.

He said he is used to loud noise as he has lived in the area for several years, but had a feeling that something was wrong.

"I was in my flat at about 6am, I heard this almighty crash," he said. "I looked out my window and saw the crash and two vans."

The bus and van after the crash in Gillygate on Friday morning (Image: Newsquest) A man was lying on the floor after being falling off his bicycle but later got up and seemed uninjured, Mr Atkinson said.

Passengers were on the bus, he added.

Mr Atkinson said he spoke to the driver afterwards and he seemed uninjured. 

"I made the bus driver a cup of tea," he said.