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Quake damage on Colombo Street - Source: Reuters -
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The sole surviving passenger of a bus that was crushed by falling masonry in Christchurch's February earthquake has told how she was squashed by falling debris and her pelvis and spine were broken.
Ann Brower's testimony came as the Royal Commission into the Canterbury Earthquakes heard evidence on the collapse of two Colombo St buildings, which killed eight bus passengers and four pedestrians.
"The bus started shaking violently, I heard bricks falling on the roof of the bus. The next thing I remember is passing out,' Brower told the commission.
"I was smooshed in between the roof, the wall and the seat. That impact of the roof and the seat and the wall broke my pelvis, a bit of my spine, my leg and my hand."
It took rescuers nearly an hour to cut Brower free and her bones were so badly broken they cut through her skin.
Among the eight people killed in the bus were driver Andrew Craig, 46, and Jayden Andrews-Howland, who was to celebrate his 15th birthday the next day.
Philip Coppeard, 41, Joseph Routledge, 74, Lucy Routledge, 74, Jeff Pelesa Sanft, 32, Beverly May Stick, 71, and Earl Nicholas Stick, 78 were also killed in the Red Bus 702.
The section of the Austral building which came down on the bus was green stickered in September, but given a red sticker after Boxing Day.
The decision was made in January to demolish it, but the owners were told the consent could take up to six months because it was a heritage building, despite concerns about damage inside.
Another issue raised at today's hearing was why the building wasn't better cordoned off because four pedestrians were also killed when another section of the building came down during the quake.
Christchurch couple Joan Dorothy Weild, 76, and Graham Weild, 77, and Israeli backpackers Ofer Levy and Gabi Moshe Ingel, both 22, were crushed by the collapsed facade of 603 Colombo St as they walked near the Mollett St intersection.
Tomorrow Christchurch City Council representatives are expected to be questioned about why damaged buildings weren't demolished more quickly.
The hearing was scheduled to begin in December but was deferred to allow the council more time to address "reputational issues" the Commission had raised in evidence.
The Royal Commission is investigating buildings that failed in the February 22, 2011 quake, which killed 182 people.
These include the Pyne Gould Corporation, Canterbury Television and The Press buildings.
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