One dead and 18 hurt in London bus crash

By Avril Ormsby

LONDON (Reuters) - A woman was killed and 18 people were injured on Tuesday when a double-decker bus hit a tree in central London.

The incident on Tower Bridge Road smashed glass in the front windows of the route 188 bus and damaged part of one side.

The woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said she was believed to have been a passer-by and not a passenger.

Nine people were taken to hospital for treatment, four with more serious injuries -- three with back injuries and one a head injury.

Paramedics treated a further nine people with minor injuries at the scene.

Emergency services were called just before 9:35 a.m., with the first medical staff arriving within three minutes.

Scotland Yard said it was trying to find out how the collision happened.

"Officers are currently speaking with the driver of the bus," it said.