Benidorm transfer bus tragedy

A young woman died instantly, when a transfer bus carrying newly arrived holidaymakers, ploughed into her on a busy corner of a Benidorm old town street earlier this week.

Witnesses to the accident suggested the bus may have suffered brake failure The victim, described as a Portuguese national aged between 25 and 30, had been walking with a friend, when the driver of a transfer coach, with bold livery saying, NICE2MEETYOU, appeared to lose control while travelling downhill in busy, CalleRuzafa in the heart of the resort. The incident occurred at the central point where pedestrians cross from Avenida Emilio Ortuno into Plaza de La Creu, an area known locally as the Benidorm Walking Street at around 22.30h last Wednesday evening. Witnesses to the accident suggested the bus may have suffered brake failure as the driver slowed down to negotiate a sharp bend, at the foot of the one way street. Onlookers described the driver being unable to brake, before hitting a telephone booth, another car, several street signs and the unfortunate victim, before coming to a halt on the pavement outside an Ale Hop shop window. The lifeless body of the young woman remained face down on the pavement, as pedestrians screamed for support, called for emergency services or watched helplessly as the tragedy unfolded. Passers-by, many of them from the UK, enjoying an evening stroll at one of the busiest times of the day in Benidorm, were drawn to area, as the scene of the collision descended into chaos. Pedestrians ran up to unaware drivers who were becoming increasingly impatient, blaring their horns in a rapidly forming queue behind the bus, pleading for them to move aside to allow ambulances and police vehicles to pass. Meanwhile, the driver of the bus, unable to speak, sat alone on the pavement in a state of extreme shock, as his equally distressed passengers remained in their seats, or stood up in the aisle, unsure of what course of action to take. Police cordoned off the vicinity of the accident As curious onlookers milled around the body, local police officers arrived on the scene by foot, followed a few minutes later by an ambulance crew and National Police vehicles. Paramedics administered CPR to the body, while police cordoned off the vicinity of the accident, but the victim was pronounced dead at the scene. Paramedics administered CPR to the body The exact cause of the accident and reasons for the brake failure, remain unclear, as investigating officers scan CCTV footage from nearby cameras and wait to interview the driver who was too distraught to give his account of events immediately afterwards. Meanwhile, the bus passengers were transferred to another vehicle to continue their onward journeys to their holiday accommodations. Passengers were transferred to another vehicle to continue their onward journeys to their holiday accommodations. The area remained cordoned off to allow technicians time to assess the damage to the shop front and balcony above. Trained councillors were made available by Benidorm City Hall, to support relatives of the victim and witnesses to the accident.       View video of the tragic scene HERE Story by Andy Mansell