Updated: A PEDESTRIAN sustained life-theatening injuries after an accident with a coach in the centre of York.

The 68-year-old victim was crossing the road at the junction of Nunnery Lane and Bishopthorpe Road yesterday afternoon when the crash left him lying in the street.

Paramedics were called to the scene just before 2pm and police cordoned off the junction.

The pensioner was taken to York Hospital, and later transferred to Leeds General Infirmary.

Police said last night the man was fighting for his life.

The coach driver, who works for Derbyshire-based firm Andrew’s, is believed to have been left shaken but unhurt by the collision.

No passengers are thought to have been travelling in the vehicle at the time.

An investigation has been launched into the accident.

The road remained closed, with diversions being put in place, until about 7.15pm.

One member of staff at a shop near the junction said: “We heard a huge bang and rushed outside to see what had happened, then saw a man covered in blood lying in the road.

“The police and ambulance crews were on the scene really quickly and he was taken away – the coach driver seemed really shaken and somebody was giving him a cup of tea to calm him down, while other people were coming out of shops to see if they could help.

“It must have been a terrible collision because of the sound we heard, and I feel so sorry for the poor man who has been hurt – I just hope he’s all right.

“We’ve always felt this is a dangerous road and that there would be an accident sooner or later, but we’ve been lucky until now. It’s just an awful thing to happen.”

Andrew’s were unavailable for comment about the crash yesterday.

Police are trying to piece together how the collision happened and have appealed for witnesses to come forward.

Anybody who saw the crash should phone Traffic Constable Roger Walker, at North Yorkshire Police’s central area road policing group, on 0845 6060 247.