The highly publicised collision at San Telmo station this Wednesday has shocked and surprised users who daily use Global lines, as it is the most significant accident to occur at the main station of the island’s public transport and the first to involve a bus from the company on the premises. Here is more information provided by Global’s general director on the state of the bus.
A month ago, another incident involving a bus on the viaduct of San José de Las Longueras took place there. On that occasion, it was a distraction and a tower in the middle of the road, which has been pending relocation for years, that led a veteran driver to lose control of the vehicle, which collided with the structure at a time when there were no passengers on board.
The line involved was the 13, which was heading to Tenteniguada to start its journey from 6.20 am. The collision occurred on the opposite side of the driver’s seat, and despite the images showing significant damage to the vehicle, the sole occupant managed to escape unharmed, and there were no personal injuries to regret. Police sources indicated that the driver “was momentarily distracted” and crashed into the structure that kept part of one of the lanes closed.
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However, there are no precedents of any similar collision to this latest one inside San Telmo station, as the only collisions that have occurred in the area have taken place on the side facing Avenida Marítima and have involved private vehicles in circulation.
The only collisions that had occurred before in the area involved private vehicles
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To find a similar case, one must go to the island of Tenerife, where on July 28, 2019, around 2.30 pm, a bus from the Titsa company apparently lost its brakes as it was about to start a journey on line 014, which at that time was transporting a few passengers from the Santa Cruz Interchange.
No separation barriers
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Fortunately, in the Tenerife accident, only material damage occurred affecting the vehicle and the station’s furniture, but neither the driver nor the passengers or passers-by in the area suffered injuries. The capital of Tenerife’s interchange has in common with San Telmo station that it does not have bollards or any type of barrier separating pedestrians from buses, but it lacks nearby walls and is in a semi-open space. On the day of the incident, it collided with a column, but did not go any further.
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In the case of Tenerife, the Roads, Mobility, and Innovation Councillor ordered to halt similar vehicles to the one involved awaiting clarification of the accident’s causes, and the fleet was replaced by other reserve vehicles. This measure was taken with the aim of ensuring the safety of the public transport users and drivers.
