Tragedy Strikes: Woman Dies After Incident with Parked Bus
A heartbreaking incident unfolded at London Victoria train station in August 2021, as a woman lost her life in a shocking accident involving a parked bus. The victim, identified as Melissa Burr, 32, faced a tragic fate when she was thrown into the air by the stationary bus. This distressing incident has led to a court trial that aims to unravel the details surrounding her unfortunate demise.
The court proceedings at the Old Bailey have revealed that the incident occurred due to a grave mistake made by the bus driver. The driver, Olusofa Popoola, 60, is accused of confusing the accelerator with the brake, resulting in a collision with the parked bus. Tragically, Melissa was crossing the road just in front of the stationary bus when the collision occurred. The impact caused her to be flung into the air, leading to the grievous injuries that would ultimately claim her life.
The force of the collision also had severe repercussions for the driver of the parked bus, Diane Mathuranayagum. The impact was so intense that she was thrown out of the bus onto the pavement. Furthermore, a passenger who was near the scene was knocked to the ground, sustaining minor injuries.
During the trial, the court heard statements from both the accused driver and crash investigators. Popoola initially claimed that he had accidentally hit the accelerator instead of the brake due to his foot slipping. He described feeling shocked and disoriented by the sudden collision. Subsequently, he realized the severity of the situation and applied the brake, but the collision had already taken place.
The court also learned that a crash investigator determined Popoola’s actions after the collision. The investigator found that Popoola continued to apply the accelerator after the collision, ultimately using the handbrake to bring the bus to a stop. Data analysis showed that the bus was traveling at around 8mph during the impact and briefly reached a speed of 10mph just before.
Prosecutor Robert Evans clarified that the trial doesn’t claim intentional dangerous driving by the defendant, but rather focuses on the consequences of his actions. Popoola, an experienced bus driver of 20 years, denies charges of causing death by dangerous driving and seriously injuring the other bus driver.
The trial is ongoing as it seeks to provide a clearer understanding of the events leading to this tragic loss of life.