A woman has died after a bus crashed into a café in Manchester’s Piccadilly Gardens.
11 other people were injured in the crash, which took place in the city centre on Monday afternoon.
77-year-old Almena Amica died after the bus hit the T4 bubble tea café, situated in one of Manchester’s busiest areas.
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A 64-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving after being detained by police at the scene. He was later bailed.
Mrs Amica’s family said that she would be ‘hugely missed’.
They said: "She loved music, gardening, TV soaps and nature. She was the senior member of our family, the eldest sister and great-great-aunt.
"She was well-loved, our matriarch, and her presence will be hugely missed."
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The family described Ms Amica, known to those close to her as Mena, as being ‘dedicated to her family, friends and faith’.
The bus struck the café at around 1:15pm on Monday (October 16) and injured passengers and pedestrians.
A spokesperson for the café said that staff working were ‘OK, though shaken up.’
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One eyewitness told BBC News: "I saw a bus driving toward myself and a large group of people.
"It knocked me back a bit but I was all right. The bus went into a café - it smashed into that building and took out all the seating area.
"I was shocked. It was really bad."
In a statement yesterday, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said: “At 1.15pm today, two fire engines from Manchester Central and Salford fire stations as well as the technical response unit from Ashton fire station were called to an incident on Parker Street, Manchester city centre.
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“Crews remain in attendance.”
A statement from Greater Manchester Police said: "At around 1pm today (Monday 16 October) police were called to reports of a collision involving a bus and a shop in Piccadilly Gardens.
"Police alongside colleagues in the Northwest Ambulance Service and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue have been in attendance.
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"There are road closures in the area whilst emergency services remain at the scene dealing with the collision and officers from GMP's Serious Collision Investigation Unit are in attendance.
"We would ask members of the public to avoid the area where possible whilst
officers establish the full circumstances."
At the time of the incident, the tram stop in Piccadilly Gardens was temporarily closed, and buses were diverted away from the city centre bus terminus.
Topics: UK News
Tom Wood