Bruno Aguiar is an electrician who lives in Eastleigh and was on his way to work when his van was almost struck by the Bluestar 607 bus full of Barton Peveril College students.
Dashcam footage from Bruno’s van shows the harrowing moment the bus crashed into the river.
Of the 20 people on the bus, 17 people have been injured, including the driver, in his 60s, who is one of two people seriously injured. Five were taken to the hospital.
READ MORE: Video shows moment bus crashes into river in Bishopstoke
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Bruno said: “I saw the bus coming really fast. I swerved to the pavement, and the bus came into the middle of both lanes.
“It hit a red Corsa from a driving school and then went into the river.
“I came out of my van to see what had happened.
“I went to check on the driver, and he was asking for an ambulance.
“I saw it was full of children.”
READ MORE: Students shout ‘we’re going to die’ in video footage inside bus before crash
Bruno was quick to take action, pulling the ladder from his van to help bring the students to safety.
He adds that another man wearing a Bluestar uniform, believed to have been passing by who was “really quick to help” in getting the children off the bus.
“I went to get the ladder off my van and helped the children get off the bus,” Bruno added.
“There were no adults except the bus driver on the bus.
“To be honest, everyone was a bit shocked by what happened.
“I wasn’t thinking clearly. The children were all panicked. A child doesn’t think; they wait for help.
“They were bleeding from the head and from the arms.
“I think it was a miracle nobody was more seriously injured.”
Eyewitnesses have told the Echo the driver told them the accelerator “jammed”. Police and Bluestar are investigating.
It is thought the bus collided with a telegraph pole near the Nisa store in Fair Oak Road before crashing through the railings into the Itchen near Toby Carvery.
