A man in his 70s remained in a serious condition on Thursday after he was hit by a bus at Invermay.
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The Youngtown man was crossing on a green pedestrian light when he was struck by a Redline bus turning at the intersection of Lindsay Street and the East Tamar Highway.
The man was hit about noon and the crash saw traffic interrupted for several hours, with police diverting cars at multiple intersections.
Tasmania Police Inspector Darren Hopkins said early investigations indicated the bus had turned on a green traffic light but did not see the man crossing the road.
Inspector Hopkins said the man suffered significant injuries as a result of the crash and was taken to the Launceston General Hospital by ambulance.
“The bus drove over his pelvic area so he’s suffered some significant injuries to his pelvis and abdominal area,” Inspector Hopkins said.
“The bus driver is assisting us with our inquiries so we will be doing the usual blood tests and he will be spoken to by crash investigators.”
Inspector Hopkins said it was too early to determine whether charges would be laid.
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Redline managing director Michael Larissey said the driver was physically okay but was shaken up over the incident.
“We can confirm it was our coach,” he said.
“The coach was travelling very slow and the pedestrian had a headset on. We wish him a very quick recovery.”
The elderly man is the second pedestrian to be hit by a vehicle at the Lindsay Street intersection in less than two months.
The incident has sparked concerns from the public with the intersection described as “very dangerous” and an “accident waiting to happen”.
“This accident was inevitable. The lights change so quickly and there is so much traffic that I'm surprised it hasn't happened sooner,” Freda Wagner said.
“Intersections with such a massive traffic flow need either an overpass or much better coordination of lights.”
“This intersection is way too congested, it is not pedestrian friendly and has way too many accidents,” Jo Smith said.
“There needs to be some serious work done there to ensure the safety of everyone.”