Shocking CCTV footage shows the moment an 80-year-old bus driver crashed his double-decker into a supermarket

News24xx.com -  Shocking CCTV footage shows the moment an 80-year-old bus driver crashed his vehicle into a supermarket, which killing a 7-year-old passenger and an elderly pedestrian.

Kailash Chander, who has been diagnosed with dementia, had been working three consecutive 75-hour weeks and ignored 24 warning letters about his driving.

The man who also former mayor of Leamington Spa,  lost control of the Stagecoach bus when he mistook the accelerator for the brake and smashed into a Sainsbury’s in Coventry.

Bus passenger Rowan Fitzgerald and pedestrian Dora Hancox, 76, were both killed in the crash on October 3, 2015. Two more were seriously injured, including Rowan’s eight-year old cousin. 

West Midlands Police released the shocking footage of the crash. The clip shows the bus veering across the road, before careering into the shop front. 
The double decker then continued on, accelerating to a dangerous speed for that road, at one point veering off the road and onto a grass verge. Pedestrians had to run to avoid being hit. The bus collided with a lamp post and several flag poles, knocking them down.

Even after that collision, the bus carried on and went on to hit the front of the Sainsbury’s supermarket. The front of the bus was badly crushed by the collision, in particular to the top deck. 

Chander, of Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, was also found guilty of two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. 

A seven-year-old boy named Rowan Fitzgerald, who had been sat in the front seat on the top deck, was killed. Two other passengers, including Rowan’s eight-year-old cousin, Paige Wilson, suffered very serious injuries. 

And Mrs Dora Hancox, who was 76 years old, was crossing the road, also killed in that accident. She was struck by the double-decker bus and then struck again by the falling lamp post.

Before, Chander had a string of near misses before the crash but was still allowed to drive the bus. 

Between 2012 and October 3, 2015, he struck a piece of street furniture, reversed into another bus at the depot, caused a rear end collision with a car, and struck a gate.

Rowan’s grandfather, John Wilson, also told the court of the horrific moment he watched the youngster die as they travelled back from a football match. 

Mr Wilson told the jury, "Rowan and Paige ran on the bus and up the stairs followed by John. I got on and showed the tickets. I was just about to sit down when the bus hit a car. When the bus we were on pulled out it was as if the bus driver was angry because the bus made a growling noise. It pulled out and jerked."

"The bus swerved to the left and the bus shot forwards travelling at 50 or 60mph. I ran towards my grandkids. "

"I saw Paige first and she said “Rowan’s dead, grandad. And I will died too..” 

Chander, who was judged unfit to stand trial after being diagnosed with dementia, post-traumatic stress disorder and depression, will be sentenced on November 26. 

Bus company Midland Red, who admitted two offences under the Health and Safety at Work Act, will also be sentenced on the same day.

 

 

 

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