Bus drivers have spoken of their shock after the death of a man trapped underneath a double decker as it left the bus garage in Colliers Wood.

The 29-year-old man was hit by the side of the bus and pulled under its back wheels as it attempted to turn left on to Merton High Street from Merton Bus Garage at 6.50pm on Saturday.

Another driver from the Merton Bus Garage, said: “Nothing like this has ever happened at the garage before. I heard that the man ran into the back of the bus as it was turning.

“By all accounts the driver was a nice lady and an experienced professional - there’s just no way she could have seen him.

“A lot of the other drivers just don’t want to talk about it, it’s so shocking. It’s not even a particularly dangerous junction and we always stop and look carefully before turning out.”

No arrest or charges against the female driver have been made, although police, who will be analysing CCTV footage of the crash, will not rule out any future charges until an investigation has been completed.

Alcohol was not detected as the bus driver was breathalysed at the scene before being taken to hospital suffering from shock.

More than 20 firefighters used high pressure airbags to lift the bus and free the man, but he was pronounced dead upon arrival at St George’s Hospital, Tooting.

Two witnesses have come forward but sergeant Harry Wilkinson from Hampton Collision Investigation Unit appealed for more information about the “especially tragic” accident.

The victim has not yet been named as police were trying to contact his family. A post-mortem will be conducted in due course.

Anyone with any information should call the incident witness line 020 8941 9011 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.