Pedestrian dies after bus crashes into house

LONDON, May 15 (Reuters) A pedestrian died after a bus crashed into a house in a residential street in Birmingham today.

The single-decker became embedded in the house in Bunns Lane, Dudley, sparking a fierce fire.

The residents were out visiting neighbours at the time, and escaped injury, but were treated for shock.

The driver of the bus managed to get out of the vehicle with just cuts and bruises, despite the front being smashed.

The victim is a man in his 40s, though no further information was immediately available.

The accident happened at 9:16 a m (local time) and caused severe damage to the house.

West Midlands Ambulance Service Station Manager Pete Purewal said: ''When I arrived at the scene I found the bus embedded in the wall of a house and a fierce fire that had created a large plume of smoke.

''Both the house and bus had suffered significant damage.

''Despite the worst damage being in the area around where the bus driver sits, the man had managed to get out of the vehicle.'' There were suggestions that a passenger had been on board, and that a cyclist had been involved, but these proved unfounded.

''While this is a tragic incident, the potential for a far more serious one cannot be underestimated,'' Purewal added.

''Given the time of day, it is perhaps unusual that the bus was so empty and there was no one in the house.'' Reuters SLD VV2030