While a young woman remains in hospital fighting for her life after being crushed against a wall by a car in Exeter, images have emerged of a bus crashing into the same wall five years ago.
The bus, a D service, hit the same spot as the Honda Jazz did last Thursday, at the side of the Exeter Sewing Machine Company in Heavitree Road.
A 26-year-old girl remains in a critical condition after last week's crash although on the previous occasion there were fortunately no serious injuries.
The owner of the business David Williams was in the shop on both occasions.
He said: "On Thursday we heard an almighty bang and knew straight away what it was. The same thing happened with a bus five years ago although fortunately no one was seriously injured on that occasion. We just thought 'oh no – it has happened again.' The poor girl on Thursday was in a bad way when she went off to hospital and we just hope she is ok."
Thursday's incident occurred on the same day new safety measures were opened on the road for the first time.
County councillor Richard Westlake said there had been concerns about the safety of the crossing at the bottom of Heavitree Road but stressed that the work carried out had made the area safer.
He said that, despite some comments from motorists on the Express & Echo website www.thisisexeter.co.uk that the changes were "confusing", he had been assured that the collision was not related to the new system in any way.
But he called for further safety measures to be installed further up Heavitree Road near the Waitrose site to prevent more accidents.
He said: "We did have concerns about the crossing on Heavitree Road as on a number of occasions drivers were missing the red lights and we were very worried about children making their way to school.
"But we have just had a major upgrade that involved new traffic lights and a pedestrian crossing that opened on the very day of the accident.
"However, I want to make it absolutely clear that from what I have been told the changes had nothing to do with the accident whatsoever.
"We are waiting to see how effective the new scheme will be but the feedback we have had so far from residents has been very good.
"The actual crossing has only now been open about a week. We are going to monitor the situation but hopefully the changes will mean it is a lot better and safer for people to cross."
Cllr Westlake said the only remaining part of the road where there was concern near Waitrose.
He said: "There is no crossing on the Waitrose side of Heavitree Road. The original proposals on that site did have a Pelican crossing but none was provided and it is very dangerous for pedestrians to cross there.
"This part of Heavitree Road has had the potential for accidents. But what happened last week was very unusual. There was potential for crashes on the crossing that we saw and there has been some incidents there over the last three years.
"It is clear to me that what happened is nothing to do with the new crossing. What happened was a very unusual accident but it is important we do everything to make Heavitree Road as safe as possible.
"It is one of our busiest roads and it is vital people keep their speeds down and pedestrians are able to cross safely."
Following the collision, readers posted commented about the changes on the Echo's website.
One said: "I walked past the new layout this morning and felt that it was confusing and had been badly planned.
"That said, we don't know the full details yet and it could have been caused by a driver's 'medical episode'. Hope the lady recovers soon."
Another wrote: "I drive this road everyday and I have to say the roadworks there have left the road particularly busy in terms of signs and unclear road markings.
"I also think it's odd that the crossing has been moved so that it is on the corner of the two side roads... I was only thinking this morning that this road was quite dangerous in it's current state."
