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Sarah Young-Shortt / Supplied
Imogen Adams, 12, suffers a concussion and has a broken nose after the bus she was riding in was forced to sudden stop, throwing her against the windshield.
A 12-year-old girl was left with a broken nose and a concussion after the Auckland bus she was riding in was forced to sudden stop, throwing her against the windshield.
Imogen Adams, 12, was traveling in a double-decker NX1 at approximately 3:30 p.m. Thursday heading to central Auckland from Takapuna Normal Intermediate School, when a car pulled into the bus lane on the North Highway between Esmonde Rd and Onewa Rd.
The car caused the bus driver to swerve and brake sharply, throwing Imogen about two or three meters forward, against the windshield.
The force of Imogen hitting the windshield caused it to crack, her mother Sarah Young-Shortt said.
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“He obviously hit the glass very hard to break it.”
A spokeswoman for St John confirmed that two ambulances attended the incident and took a seriously injured person to Starship Hospital.
Young-Shortt said Imogen has no recollection of the accident or the ambulance trip as she was unconscious.
Imogen spent the night at Starship and has since been discharged after undergoing a CT scan and X-rays, as there were concerns that she might have suffered a spinal or brain injury.
“Fortunately, nothing was broken more than his nose.”
He now faces time away from school while he recovers from his concussion. When you return, it will only be for an hour each day before slowly increasing.
“It could have been a lot worse,” Young-Shortt said, adding that it was a blessing that it didn’t go all the way through the windshield.
Imogen had been standing on the bus, having given her seat to an older woman with heavy bags.
“They have always taught him to leave a seat for other people.”
Young-Shortt said she was “absolutely furious” at the behavior of the driver who allegedly swerved in front of the bus to avoid traffic and did not stop to make sure the bus was okay.
“I want to make sure that this person is caught and treated, he has put people’s lives in danger.”
She believed the incident also highlighted the need for Auckland Transport to require all passengers to be seated and with a seat belt available. If there weren’t enough seats for this, there should be more services, he said.
“It’s just common sense. I will not put Imogen back on a bus in a hurry. “
Auckland Transport spokeswoman Natalie Polley confirmed that she was investigating the incident together with Richies, who operated the service.
She confirmed that another vehicle interrupted the bus driver.
“We are aware that the driver had no choice but to brake, and did the right thing when braking.
“Obviously it’s really unfortunate and something horrible, horrible that happened.”
He said Auckland Transport’s thoughts were with the girl and her family.
Richies has been contacted for comment.
A police spokesman confirmed that they were investigating the incident.
Anyone with information should call the police at 105 quoting the reference number P045624456.