By Ted JeoryA BUS driver and eight passengers needed hospital treatment after the vehicle was involved in a collision with a lorry in a town centre.The Stansted Transit bus was at a bus stop in Braintree when it was in collision with a 7½-tonne hire truck from Colchester at about 11.

By Ted Jeory

A BUS driver and eight passengers needed hospital treatment after the vehicle was involved in a collision with a lorry in a town centre.

The Stansted Transit bus was at a bus stop in Braintree when it was in collision with a 7½-tonne hire truck from Colchester at about 11.20am yesterday.

About 15 terrified passengers were thrown from their seats and emergency services from across the county were sent to the accident scene in Aetheric Road.

Four ambulances from Chelmsford, Dunmow, Ongar and South Woodham Ferrers and a rapid response vehicle were called to the crash, as well as firefighters from Braintree.

Nine people, including three children, were taken to Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford for treatment, with many suffering from whiplash injuries.

Although none of the injuries are thought to be life-threatening, the 27-year-old bus driver, from Little Canfield, was kept in overnight for observation.

The 38-year-old driver of the truck, from Braintree, was not hurt, but his red Leyland DAF lorry was seized by police for a vehicle inspection.

Jim Wright, operations manager at Essex Ambulance Service, said: “There is no doubt that the level of injuries was much lower than it could have been.

“I have seen accidents like this that have been much worse - everyone was really quite lucky.”

Sian Morris, operations director at Stansted Transit, said its number 9 bus had been returning to Braintree from Great Bardfield when the accident happened.

“We are monitoring the situation and hope everyone makes a full recovery - it could have been a lot worse,” she added.

Anyone with information about the accident should contact Pc Roy Linton, of Bocking traffic police, on 01376 330722.

ted.jeory@eadt.co.uk