Horror Dublin bus crash & victim details as heroic passers-by help trapped people at ‘traumatic’ scene & cause probed

A SHOP worker told how people “were ­screaming” as a double-decker bus ploughed onto a pedestrianised street in the capital today, causing two-minutes of horror.

The woman, who works on busy North Earl Street in the city centre, told The Irish Sun: “There was a big crash noise. When we looked out the bus had come up onto the path.

“The driver must have lost control or something. People were screaming and then there was a lot of gardai here very quickly and we all closed.”

One male pedestrian, aged in his 80s, was confirmed as dead after the lunchtime horror, with three others – a male pedestrian in his 20s, a female pedestrian in her 30s, and the bus driver, a woman in her 50s, seriously injured in hospital.

The out-of-service coach rammed into shoppers on the pedestrianised street, just off O’Connell Street, at around 12.30pm.

The double-decker was travelling around a corner when it careered straight and crashed into several people walking in front of shops.

One witness said it was “chaotic and traumatic” as people panicked when the bus mounted the path.

And a mum and son initially thought it was “a bomb going off”.

But heroic passers-by quickly jumped into action and valiantly battled to rescue people who were trapped underneath the coach.

People were seen at both ends of the Bus Eireann vehicle trying to help those who had been hit.

The man killed was declared deceased at the scene, with a fleet of ambulances rushing the three injured people — including the bus driver — to hospital.

Gardai are probing whether the driver suffered a medical emergency shortly before the tragedy.

In a statement this evening Gardai said: “Gardai and emergency services attended the scene of a fatal road traffic incident involving a bus on North Earl Street, Dublin 1, on Thursday 5th February 2026 shortly after 12:35pm.

“A male pedestrian, aged in his 80s, was pronounced deceased at the scene. The Coroner has been notified.

“A second male pedestrian (20s) is being treated in hospital for serious, but non-life-threatening injuries.

“The driver of the bus (female, 50s) and a female pedestrian (30s) are being treated in hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

GARDA PROBE & APPEAL

“Restrictions are in place around the scene, which has been preserved for examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators. Local traffic and pedestrian diversions are in place.

“A Senior Investigative Officer (SIO) has been appointed to lead the investigation from an incident room at Store Street Garda Station.

“A Family Liaison Officer (FLO) has been appointed to the family of the deceased.

“An Garda Síochána requests that if anyone has photographs or video of the incident to not share them but to make them available to the Garda investigation team at Store Street Garda Station.”

David Hall, who owns the Lifeline Ambulance Service, was walking to his office nearby when he came across the crash.

He told The Irish Sun: “I arrived at the same time as the emergency services and it was an unpleasant scene and an unpleasant set of ­circumstances.

“It was very chaotic and traumatic for people that were around and particularly for those who were hit by the bus obviously, and the driver.

“In the first instance everyone’s thoughts are with them.”

‘MIRACLE OTHERS WEREN’T KILLED’

The businessman, who owns iCare Housing, said it was a “very difficult scene” — as he paid tribute to the heroic paramedics who worked to save lives in difficult circumstances.

He said: “The emergency services stepped up again. The Gardai, the fire and the ambulance services.

“They are underpaid, under- resourced and under-staffed. No money in the world would pay ­people to see anybody hit by a bus.

“But they are there when we need them. We are very fortunate to have them. They’re the best in the world.”

The shocking crash sparked a major incident response from the emergency services.

They arrived at the central Dublin scene within minutes and locked off nearby streets as the massive rescue operation got underway.

Some 20 paramedics and firefighters were deployed to the scene, along with four fire engines.

And one Garda source told us it is a “miracle” that more people weren’t killed in the crash.

They said: “This is a terrible ­tragedy and it’s a miracle other ­people weren’t killed. Gardai are trying to establish the sequence of events which led to pedestrians being hit by the bus.

“An early stage of the investigation is focusing on the driver having some type of medical episode.”

AREA LOCKED DOWN

A packed Luas tram drove by the horrific crash before the operators shut down the city centre part of the Green Line for the day.

Dublin Fire Brigade were seen working to help at least one person who remained stuck underneath the bus before a protective guard was put up as the emergency services worked to try and save lives.

The fire service later removed a body from the scene.

Shops and restaurants in the immediate vicinity were closed down after the smash.

Gardai locked down the scene to enable the emergency services to carry out their work unhindered, with roads closed up to O’Connell Street and back to Talbot Street.

The front windscreen of the bus was badly smashed in the crash and the vehicle remained at the scene tonight as Gardai carried out an investigation into the incident.

Detectives are hoping to speak to the Bus Eireann driver once they get the green light from doctors.

The area is well covered by CCTV so officers have already received footage of the tragic incident.

Staff from Bus Eireann attended the scene. A statement said they are “offering full support to the relevant authorities and will provide any additional assistance required.”

Local Independent councillor Nial Ring offered his condolences to the dead pedestrian’s family.

He said: “It’s awful to think that someone has lost their life and ­people injured in a busy shopping area. I would also like to commend the speed of the emergency workers in responding to this tragedy.

“I spoke to a shopkeeper who works close to the incident and they informed me all of the emergency workers did a fantastic job.”

Gardai are urging any witnesses to come forward.

They said: “Contact Store Street Garda Station on 01 666 8000.”