Everything we know so far after stolen Telford bus driven into vehicles and driver assaulted
Here’s everything we know so far 👀
Note: A man has since been charged in connection with these events. Read more here: Man charged after 'bus stolen and driver attacked' in Telford
Police say a bus driver was assaulted before being thrown from his vehicle, which was then stolen and driven into several cars during a dramatic incident in Telford.
The reported incident happened in Madeley at around 6.37pm on Friday, September 18, when officers were called to Court Street following reports that a bus driver had been assaulted.
The bus involved was the service 100 to Sutton Hill.
Footage shown above by the Shropshire Star shows the bus stop in Madeley from where the vehicle was taken, as well as the one-way High Street where the stolen bus was later driven in the wrong direction.
West Mercia Police said the driver was ejected from the bus during the assault.
The vehicle was then driven along Park Way towards the High Street, travelling on the wrong side of the road and colliding with multiple vehicles.
The bus driver was treated by paramedics for minor injuries. Police said no-one else was believed to have been injured during the incident.
The incident also resulted in roads in the area being closed while emergency services dealt with the aftermath. Kemberton Road was closed for several hours and reopened at around 9.40pm.
Footage circulating online
Video footage purporting to show parts of the incident has since circulated on social media.
Some residents have questioned whether footage showing the driver being attacked should be shared publicly, with concerns about the impact on the driver and his family.
West Mercia Police has not confirmed the authenticity or full context of individual videos circulating online.
Instead, officers have appealed to anyone who witnessed the incident or recorded footage to provide it directly to investigators.
Detective Sergeant Taigh Lannie said officers were particularly interested in dashcam, CCTV, mobile phone and doorbell footage recorded around the time of the incident.
Police have asked anyone with relevant recordings from Court Street, Park Way or High Street to check their footage and contact officers.
Bus driver treated for minor injuries
The driver was treated by paramedics after being ejected from the bus.
West Mercia Police said his injuries were minor.
No other injuries were reported, despite the bus colliding with multiple vehicles as it was driven through the area.
Police appeal for footage
Detective Sergeant Taigh Lannie said the incident would have been alarming for people in the area and said officers had responded quickly.
Police are continuing to establish exactly what happened and are asking witnesses to come forward.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or has relevant footage is asked to email [email protected], quoting incident number 379i of September 18, 2026.
Police are particularly interested in recordings from the areas around Court Street, Park Way and High Street.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Concerns over bus driver safety
The incident has also prompted concerns among bus drivers about the safety measures available to them while working alone.
One Stafford bus driver told the Shropshire Star that colleagues had been left questioning what protection they would have if a similar attack happened locally.
The driver, who spoke anonymously, claimed some buses operating in Stafford were not fitted with assault screens and that drivers did not have panic alarms or a quick way of alerting control or police during an attack.
The driver said bus workers can operate alone during early mornings and late at night and questioned what protection was available to them.
Local bus operators have been contacted for comment on the concerns.
The Telford incident has brought those questions into sharper focus, following an assault which saw a driver removed from his bus before the vehicle was driven through the town and into other vehicles.
Police have stressed that their investigation into what happened in Madeley is continuing.
Police praise the public
Police said the bus driver did not suffer serious injuries and was assessed by paramedics at the scene before being taken to hospital for further treatment.
Superintendent for local policing in Telford, Edward Hancox, thanked members of the public and said that armed officers had been deployed to Friday’s incident.
He said: “We understand how concerning this incident will have been for people in Madeley and the wider Telford community, and I want to reassure people that our enquiries are very much ongoing.
“Officers were on the scene, and had made the arrest, within 10 minutes of the first call being received. This included armed officers deploying from Malinsgate Police Station. A man remains in police custody while we work to fully understand the circumstances of what happened.
“Thankfully, the bus driver did not suffer serious injuries, and I’d like to thank those members of the public who came to the driver’s aid and offered their help and support following what was understandably a distressing incident. The care and concern shown by the community has been greatly appreciated.
“We’re also very grateful to everyone who has already come forward with information or sent us footage. We are reviewing the material we have received as part of our enquiries, but we would still encourage anyone with footage or information who hasn’t yet spoken to us to please get in touch.
“We will continue to be open with the community and provide further updates when we are able to do so as the investigation progresses.”
Anyone who has footage of the incident, or witnessed it, is asked to contact police by emailing [email protected] quoting incident number 379i of 18 September, 2026.