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A BUS driver has been hailed a hero after averting a potentially fatal accident.

He and his passengers had a lucky escape when the bus careered down a steep country road and ploughed into a stone wall, shortly after 8am yesterday.

It is thought the Centrebus vehicle, developed problems with its brakes.

Rescuers said that had the driver not steered into the wall, the bus could have run into a busy main road at the height of the rush-hour.

The accident happened as the single-decker bus carrying around 30 commuters was being driven down Far Dene in Highburton.

The driver, a man in his 40s, was trapped in the cab of the number 81 bus for two hours, being cut free from the wreckage by firefighters.

He sustained neck injuries and was taken by ambulance to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.

Four passengers, men and women, sustained minor injuries including a man who suffered a knee injury. All made their own way to hospital.

Watch commander Andy Blackburn, of Huddersfield Fire Station, said: “This could have been much worse if it hadn’t been for the quick actions of the driver.

“This is a steep road and if the brakes have failed and he has taken action to avoid ploughing into a main road during rush-hour, he has averted a major tragedy.”

Twenty firefighters spent four hours at the scene, initially stabilising the vehicle using airbags, chains and mechanical restraints to allow paramedics and a doctor to free the trapped driver.

They then had to swill away and decant 200 litres of leaking diesel.

Some of the fuel went into the drainage system which led to the Environment Agency being alerted.

Crews from Huddersfield, Skelmanthorpe and Cleckheaton attended the incident. Far Dene was closed for several hours,

John Cartwright, 49, who lives on Far Dene said: “I was standing in the kitchen and I heard a grating noise, like an exhaust being dragged down the road. There was bang but it wasn't a big bang.

“I went to the window and there were people wandering around. No-one was rushing about so I didn't think anyone was seriously hurt.”

Carlie Hanson, 23, also of Far Dene, said: “I was sitting in the front room at the time. I heard was the bus go past the window then I heard a screech and a massive bang.

“I saw one passenger sat in the bus who was taken off on a stretcher. The bus driver had a neck brace.”

The 81 service runs between Huddersfield, Highburton, Kirkburton, Skelmanthorpe, Scissett and Clayton West. It was on its way to Huddersfield when the accident happened.

David Shelley, commercial director for Centrebus, which runs the 81 service, said: “An incident such as this will warrant a full investigation, and we will not be jumping to any conclusions or speculating about what may have caused the crash.

“A preliminary review has confirmed that the vehicle’s maintenance schedule was fully up to date and that the braking system had been subject to a routine and satisfactory rolling road brake test 10 days ago.”

Mr Shelley added “Our engineering team will of course be working closely with VOSA, the vehicle standards agency, to ensure we get to the bottom of what happened.”

He said all services operated by Huddersfield Bus Company continued to operate normally for the rest of the day.

West Yorkshire Police meanwhile have appealed for witnesses to the incident. Anyone who saw the incident can contact Pc Richard Foale at Holmfirth Road Policing on 0845 6060606.