Families of two pedestrians killed by buses outside Victoria station urge Sadiq Khan to close junction as another woman fights for life after third incident in three years

The families of two women killed after being hit by buses outside London Victoria station have called for the area to be closed following a third incident in three years.

A woman today remained in a life-threatening condition at hospital after being hit by a double-decker bus at the notoriously dangerous junction last Friday at about 11am.

MailOnline understands that that the woman, who has not yet been named, remains in a 'critical but stable' condition and is likely to remain so for some time.

Passengers were kept on the bus for more than an hour afterwards to be interviewed by police - and the incident has led to renewed calls to Transport for London (TfL) and its chair, newly-relected London Mayor Sadiq Khan, for road layout changes.

Two other women have died in the same area after being hit by a bus in recent years - Catherine Finnegan, 56, in January this year; and Melissa Burr, 32, in August 2021.

Following the latest incident, Ms Finnegan's niece Katrina Finnegan has issued a statement to MailOnline on behalf of her family together with Ms Burr's mother.

They said: 'The families of Kathleen Finnegan and Melissa Burr are devastated to hear of another serious incident near Victoria Station.

'Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim of this terrible bus crash. We are calling on the Mayor of London and Transport for London to close this area until it is made safe for pedestrians.'

TfL has confirmed that works to Victoria bus station to 'improve pedestrian safety and accessibility needs' were carried out last year.

This included constructing and reviewing pedestrian crossing points, footways on Terminus Place and adjusting bus stops. 

A loading bay was also created on Terminus Place with new signage for customers and bus drivers installed.

But officials are now working with the Metropolitan Police on the investigation into the latest incident to look at whether further changes will be required.

Witness Youcef Fk, 26, who works for a sightseeing bus company in Victoria, told the Daily Telegraph: 'Police said a lady had been smashed by the bus. 

'This is about the third time it has happened in the same place, and the fourth time was a couple of weeks ago when a bus stop was smashed.'

He said it was a 'dangerous junction' and that his firm had warned police and the council that the 'pavement is too close to the road and bus wheels go over it'.

TfL's head of buses Tom Cunnington said: 'Our thoughts remain with the people who have been killed and seriously injured after collisions in Victoria. These incidents are distressing for everyone involved and we have support available for those affected.

'Last year, we carried out works to Victoria Bus Station to improve pedestrian safety. We will support the police with their enquiries into the causes of the incident near to the station on Friday to see if additional safety improvements are needed.

'Safety is our utmost priority in all that we do and we're determined that it will continue to be at the heart of our transport network.'

Following the death of Ms Finnegan in January, London Mayor Sadiq Khan told the Evening Standard that 'all options are on the table' for a re-design of Victoria station.

TfL has a 'Vision Zero' goal of ensuring that no one will be killed in or by a London bus by 2030. There is also a target for zero serious injuries by 2041.

The Metropolitan Police said last Friday: 'Police were called to Buckingham Palace Road following reports of a Road Traffic Collision involving a bus and pedestrian.

'A woman was treated on scene. Her injuries have been confirmed to be life threatening. Road closures are currently in place.'

And the London Ambulance Service said: 'We were called at 11:14am today to reports of a road traffic collision involving a bus and a pedestrian at Victoria Station.

'We sent resources to the scene including ambulance crews and an incident response officer. We also dispatched a trauma team from London's Air Ambulance by car.

'Our first paramedic was on the scene in under five minutes. We treated a patient at the scene and took them to a major trauma centre.'

Nickie Aiken, the Conservative MP for Cities of London and Westminster, tweeted: 'So sorry to learn of the third serious incident involving a bus at Victoria station. My thoughts are with the woman fighting for her life and her family.'

MailOnline has contacted Mr Khan's office for comment.