On Wednesday 18 February 2026, six people were taken to hospital after two double-decker buses crashed on Newington Causeway in Southwark, south London, with one of the vehicles striking the glass frontage of Southwark Playhouse Borough, according to emergency services. Police said they were called to the scene at 08:06 GMT, while Transport for London confirmed the collision occurred shortly after 08:05 and involved a route 35 busand a route 333 bus that was not in service at the time. None of the injuries were believed to be life-threatening. This is reported by The WP Times, citing BBC News.

The London Ambulance Service said it treated a number of people at the scene and confirmed that six were taken to hospital. The Metropolitan Police said none of the injuries were believed to be life-changing or life-threatening and that no arrests had been made. Images from the scene showed one bus close to the theatre building with visible damage to the window frontage, while a second bus appeared to have collided with the rear of the first. Debris was scattered across the pavement and part of the roadway near the junction with Avonmouth Street.

The London Fire Brigade said firefighters were called at 08:11 GMT and worked to make the scene safe, including dealing with minor damage to a nearby building. Fire crews stood down later in the morning after safety checks were completed.

Southwark Playhouse Borough said the venue was closed at the time of the crash and that no staff or audience members were inside the building. The theatre said it expected to open and operate as normal later on Wednesday following inspections, adding that its thoughts were with those injured in the collision.

TfL confirmed that the buses involved were operated by Go-Ahead London. Lorna Murphy, TfL’s director of buses, said safety was the organisation’s top priority and that TfL was working with police and the operator to establish what happened. She said the incident would have been distressing for those involved and that support was available for anyone affected. Roads around Newington Causeway were closed during the emergency response but reopened later in the day after both buses were removed and police cordons lifted. TfL said there were no ongoing diversions linked to the incident once the scene was cleared.

Police said inquiries were continuing to determine the cause of the collision. Investigators are expected to review CCTV and onboard camera footage, examine vehicle data and take statements from drivers and witnesses. Authorities have not set out a timeline for when further findings may be released.

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