Victoria station: Safety plea from victims' families after third woman hit by bus
The families of two women killed at a central London bus station are calling for increased safety measures after another woman was seriously injured in a collision at the same junction.
A woman remains critically injured in hospital after being hit by a double-decker bus outside Victoria station on Friday at a junction that has seen multiple fatalities in recent years.
Relatives of Catherine Finnegan and Melissa Burr - who both died in previous collisions at the same spot - said the area should be closed and "made safe for pedestrians".
In a joint statement, their families said they were "devastated to hear of another serious incident near Victoria Station", the BBC reported.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim of this bus crash. We are calling on the Mayor of London and Transport for London to close this area until it is made safe for pedestrians."
They said the news had been "very upsetting for both families", and that "clearly change is needed".
Tom Cunnington, Transport for London’s head of buses, said all three incidents were "distressing for everyone involved".
He added in a statement: "Our thoughts remain with the people who have been killed and seriously injured after collisions in Victoria.
"Last year, we carried out works to Victoria Bus Station to improve pedestrian safety.
"We will support the police with their enquiries into the causes of the incident near to the station on Friday to see if additional safety improvements are needed.
"Safety is our utmost priority in all that we do and we're determined that it will continue to be at the heart of our transport network."
Ms Burr died in August 2021 when a bus driver pressed the accelerator instead of the brake.
Finnegan, 56, was killed by a bus at Victoria Bus Station during morning rush-hour traffic in January.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said "all options are on the table" for redesigning Victoria bus station following the tragedies.
Transport for London (TfL) has faced pressure to alter the area’s layout to improve its safety. TfL's chief operating officer, Glynn Barton, said the bus station had a "full safety assessment" after the crash.
Last November, the bus station at Terminus Place was closed for about six weeks for "essential works to improve pedestrian safety and accessibility".
The works included changing parts of the layout, altering road markings and adding tactile paving.
