Tower Bidge Bus Crash

Police are investigating after one woman was killed and 19 people were injured when a double-decker bus crashed into a tree close to one of the UK's most-recognisable landmarks.

The accident happened just south of Tower Bridge in central London as the 188 bus travelled between Russell Square and North Greenwich station.

The woman, believed to be a pedestrian, was pronounced dead at the scene. Tower Bridge Road was closed and bus routes 1, 42 and 188 were diverted.

The 188 is operated by the Travel London company, which runs more than 30 bus services in the capital. Its parent company, National Express, said it was working with police to try to establish how the accident happened.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "One woman has died. She has yet to be identified and next of kin informed. She is believed to have been a passer-by and not a passenger on the bus."

He added that the majority of those hurt sustained minor injuries, with two being taken to hospital.

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