Commuters were left shaken, but uninjured after an early morning collision between a bus and crane.

The accident was the second in less than a week involving such vehicles on Front Street.

The Royal Gazette understands that the Pembroke Steel crane, driven by a 25-year-old St. George's man, was under Police escort and on its way to the construction site at the former Harnett & Richardson building around 7.25 a.m.

But when the Police car made a right turn off King Street onto Front Street, coming to a stop opposite the Dismont Robinson convenience store, the bus, driven by a 46-year-old Pembroke man, pulled up behind -- apparently unaware of the large crane in tow.

The boom of the crane then collided with the rear window of the bus, causing it to shatter.

There was also damage to the roof cap of the bus, located just above the window.

Public Transportation Board (PTB) acting director Dan Simmons yesterday estimated the damage to be between $10,000 and $15,000.

He added that two school children sitting at the back of the bus were taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital for safety checks, but other than minor cuts from the shattering glass, were fine.

No one else on the bus or crane was injured.

The accident follows last Saturday's smash-up between a bus and a crane also on Front Street.

Around 11 a.m. a bus travelling west on Front Street, near the Bank of Bermuda, crashed into the counter balance of a stationary crane's boom.

The impact smashed the front windscreen of the bus, but the driver was unhurt and able to continue his shift.

However, three passengers sustained minor injuries. The bus is expected to be back on the road in six to eight weeks.

Mr. Simmons explained that PTB will be conducting inquiries into both crashes.

"It is standard procedure that we do an in-house investigation regardless of what the Police might do,'' he said. "If a driver is found at fault, we deal with them as necessary.'' And Corporation of Hamilton secretary Roger Sherratt expressed concern over such accidents in the city. Noting that both cranes were operating during legal hours when traffic flow was light with one under Police escort, Mr.

Sherratt said: "We will have to wait and see what the cause of these accidents were. But we are reviewing our safety procedures at building sites where cranes are operated.'' He explained that temporary pedestrian crossings and site barriers were potential safety measures being considered.