Jacob Haronga, one of the stunned passengers stepped off the number 1 bus bus as droplets of blood rolled down his hand – a result of the internal glass panel shattering.

A Wellington bus came to a screeching halt, smashing a glass panel that left some people bleeding.

The incident happened about 1pm on Friday, when the driver slammed on his brakes to avoid crashing into a vehicle that pulled out in front of it.

People walking along the sidewalk at the time of the crash said they heard a screech "like an explosion" before the bus came to a sudden stop and opened its doors.

SUPPLIED Passenger Jacob Haronga received cuts to his hands from the glass shattering.

Jacob Haronga, one of the passengers stepped off the number 1 bus as droplets of blood rolled down his hand – a result of the internal glass panel shattering.

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He said everyone was thrown forward, pushing them into the panel before it busted. Tiny pieces of the glass were strewn across the floor of the bus.

STUFF Last week bus drivers expressed their concerns to the Greater Wellington Regional Council. Since then operators have amended rosters to remove longer shifts and will start collective agreement negotiations with driver union, Tramways.

A stranger on the street gave passengers tissues to mop up blood. Other passengers, including Haronga, made their own way to a nearby pharmacy to buy plasters for their cuts.

A spokesman for Tranzit said the driver was forced to slam on his brakes to avoid crashing into another vehicle, which had pulled out in front of it.

Some passengers had suffered minor injuries. An ambulance had been called. but was not needed by anyone, he said.

SUPPLIED The bus was near the Beehive when it screeched to a halt on Friday.

SUPPLIED Passengers made their own way to a nearby pharmacy to buy plasters for cuts after the near crash.