Longtown Terrier Rescued From Rubble After Bus Crashes Into Home
A family dog has survived being buried beneath rubble after a bus crashed into his home in Longtown, prompting an urgent rescue by firefighters.
The incident happened at around 8.10am on Tuesday, November 10, on Mary Street. Emergency services, including Cumbria Police, Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service and the North West Ambulance Service, were called to the scene. The road was closed in both directions while crews dealt with the collision and assessed the damage.
The bus, operated by Stagecoach, had been involved in a collision with a car before crashing through the front of the property. The homeowner, David Davidson, was inside watching television when the impact brought down part of the wall. He suffered a head injury, while his 12-year-old terrier, Ivur, was buried beneath the fallen masonry.
Firefighters searching through the debris eventually noticed the dog making the faintest movement, giving them hope that he was still alive. They carefully dug him out and handed him to a member of the public, who rushed him to Border Vets for emergency treatment. Following a veterinary examination, Ivur was reunited with Davidson and the other dogs in the household.
The collision also left the front of the house extensively damaged. The Stagecoach bus sustained significant damage, while its driver suffered minor injuries and a passenger was taken to hospital with injuries also reported to be minor. The gas supply to the affected property was isolated as a precaution.
Cumbria Police arrested two people from the car in connection with the incident. A woman in her 30s was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, failing to stop after a collision, drug-driving and drink-driving. A man in his 40s was arrested on suspicion of aiding and abetting. The investigation into the circumstances of the crash is continuing.
The incident happened close to Longtown Primary School and was witnessed by local residents, including children making their way to school. Emergency crews and members of the public assisted at the scene as the rescue operation unfolded.
A Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said the crew initially feared the worst for Ivur before detecting signs that he was alive. The service also expressed sympathy for the household and wished everyone injured in the collision a speedy recovery.
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