In-court
Bus driver and employer charged over fatal Coventry crash
A bus driver has been charged with causing the deaths of two passengers who died when his vehicle crashed into a supermarket.
His employer, Midland Red (South) Limited, has been charged with two offences under the Health and Safety at Work ect Act 1974.
Rowan Fitzgerald, aged seven, and pedestrian Dora Hancox, 76, died in the crash in Coventry in October 2015.
Bus driver Kailash Chander, 79, a former mayor of Leamington Spa, is charged with causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving. He is due at Coventry Magistrates’ Court on 7 September.
Upper deck
Midland Red (South) Limited, has been charged with two offences under the Health and Safety at Work Act; the firm is also due to appear in the court on the same day.
When the crash happened, Rowan, of Leamington Spa, was on the upper deck with his grandparents and his cousin, an eight-year-old girl who was seriously hurt.
Ms Hancox was a lollipop lady in Coventry and Nuneaton and had dedicated many years of her life as a foster carer for Coventry social services, her family said.
Five other people required hospital treatment after the crash in Trinity Street on 3 October. The bus hit a number of cars and a lamppost before crashing into the open supermarket.
Charges
The CPS announced the following charges:
Kailash Chander
- 2 times causing death by dangerous driving, contrary to section 1, Road Traffic Act 1988
- 2 times causing serious injury by dangerous driving, contrary to section 1A, Road Traffic Act 1988.
Midland Red (South) Limited
- failing to discharge the employer’s general duty, owed under section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, to ensure so far as reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees
- failing to discharge the employer’s general duty, owed under section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons not in his employment, who may be affected are not thereby exposed to risks to their health or safety.
Bus driver and employer charged over fatal Coventry crash
Bus driver charged following death of passengers after supermarket crash.
Alison Fava
SHP - Health and Safety News, Legislation, PPE, CPD and Resources Related Topics
The planning, conduct and evaluation of emergency exercises in rail transport
Care home fined £125,000 after teenager’s death
Top three areas to improve driver safety revealed in study
Why is a 79 year-old driving a bus??