By Brendan Rees
AN out-of-control bus crashed into residential fences in Chelsea on September 23, narrowly avoiding potential disaster. The bus, which had been travelling from Munro Ave, mounted the footpath before crashing into two fences and stopping only metres away from a home at Elsie Grove about 2.30pm. Luckily the only passenger onboard and driver were not injured. The bus had also hit a bus stop sign where no one had been standing. The 858-route bus was on its way to Aspendale Gardens.
The exact cause of the accident is unknown with Victoria Police confirming no one was injured and that the “bus company and homeowners exchanged details at the scene”. Chelsea SES volunteer Phil Wall said it was “very, very lucky” that no one was harmed. “The bus had come from Munro Ave, somehow lost control, went through the two fences, and stopped amazingly, probably only three metres from a unit,” he said. “It’s a busy bus stop so very often there’s people standing there.” Mr Wall said the Ventura operated bus was able to be reversed from the scene before later being towed. SES volunteers were called to clean up the debris and to clear access to a property.
In a separate incident, police arrested a man after a car crashed into a house on Swanpool Ave, Chelsea on 27 September. Police understood that a Holden utility crashed into a house about 3am causing minor structural damage. No one else was injured during the incident. “Officers have been told a man and woman fled the scene on foot but were located nearby shortly after,” a police spokesperson said. A 19-year-old Chelsea man was taken into custody and was to be interviewed by investigators.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 2 October 2024