A woman was killed when a double decker bus crashed into a tree in central London.
A woman pedestrian was killed when a double decker bus crashed into a tree in central London.
Eighteen other people have been injured, four seriously, in the collision on Tower Bridge Road on Tuesday morning.
Eighteen other people have been injured, four seriously, in the collision on Tower Bridge Road on Tuesday morning.
The incident happened near the junction with Tanner Street as the bus travelled on the 188 route, which runs between Russell Square and North Greenwich.
The incident happened near the junction with Tanner Street as the bus travelled on the 188 route, which runs between Russell Square and North Greenwich.
Police said officers were currently speaking to the driver of the bus.
Police said officers were currently speaking to the driver of the bus.
Transport for London (TfL) has said launched a full investigation and said the bus was travelling south, out of central London to North Greenwich.
A spokesman for the London Ambulance Service said its crews treated 18 people and four people with serious injuries were taken to hospital.
A spokesman for the London Ambulance Service said its crews treated 18 people and four people with serious injuries were taken to hospital.
Several roads have been closed and motorists are urged to avoid the area.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "One woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
Tower Bridge Road was closed and bus routes 1, 42 and 188 were diverted. The 188 is operated by the Travel London company.
"She has yet to be identified and next of kin informed. She is believed to have been a passer-by and not a passenger on the bus."
A TfL spokeswoman said: "We understand no other vehicle was involved."
Transport for London (TfL) said it had launched a full investigation into the crash which happened at about 0945 BST.
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It said the bus was travelling north, out of central London to North Greenwich.
Emlyn Exon, of Anderson Travel coach hire in Tower Bridge Road, said the top deck of the bus had "pretty much caved in" at the front.
And Trevor Harris, web designer at Action Plus Photographic Sports Agency, which is a short distance from the scene, said: "It looked like there were some windows smashed and branches on the road."
Tower Bridge Road and several other roads in the vicinity are closed and motorists are urged to avoid the area.
Bus routes 1, 42 and 188 have been diverted.
The 188 is operated by the Travel London company which operates more than 30 bus routes in the London area.
Are you in the area? Were you on the bus? Send your comments using the post form below, or text 61124: