Bus crash driver ‘seemed not to see car’, court hears

An Arriva bus crashed into the back of a Mercedes in Knaphill in April this year, injuring several passengers and the car driver

Elderly passengers were “catapulted” forward when a bus crashed into a car in Knaphill, a court has heard.
The pensioners fell out of their seats and suffered injuries when the Arriva vehicle hit a Mercedes in Anchor Hill in April this year, Guildford Magistrates’ Court was told this week.

The 30 year old bus driver, admitted driving without due care and attention when he appeared at the court on Wednesday.

He was fined £115 and received five penalty points on his licence for the “momentary lapse of concentration”.
The bus driver, of New Cross Road, Guildford, was driving the single decker bus from Knaphill to Woking on April 15,  the prosecutor said.

At 11.40am the Mercedes in front of the bus was held up by traffic and stopped, and the bus driver “seemed not to see that car”, he added.

The court heard the bus was travelling between 20mph and 25mph, there were no distractions and the bus driver applied the brakes immediately, resulting in the bus skidding before hitting the car in front.

Car Damaged

The prosecutor said people were thrown around, including a pensioner couple, who were “catapulted forward” and “fairly seriously injured”.

The driver of the Mercedes, which was damaged, was described as suffering whiplash and neck pain, the court heard.

A statement by one half of the injured pensioner couple read by Mr Harris in court, said: “My husband can’t remember anything from the accident. He has lost his confidence.”

The bus driver, who was representing himself in court, said he was driving normally and had looked in his mirrors.