A bus driver, Olusofa Popoola, is facing the possibility of imprisonment after being involved in a fatal accident outside London’s Victoria railway station. The incident occurred when Popoola accidentally accelerated into the back of a stationary bus, causing it to move forward and collide with pedestrian Melissa Burr, resulting in her death. Popoola, aged 60, admitted to causing Ms. Burr’s death due to careless driving, asserting that he had pressed the accelerator instead of the brake by mistake.
Acquittal of More Serious Charges On Wednesday, a jury acquitted Popoola, a resident of Peckham, south-east London, of the more serious charge of causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury following a retrial at the Old Bailey. The trial had previously revealed how the fatal collision unfolded while Popoola was waiting in a line of buses behind a vehicle driven by Diane Mathuranayagum.
The Fatal Incident As the first bus in the queue moved forward, Ms. Mathuranayagum advanced to the front, engaged the parking brake, exited her cab, and stood by the open door. Melissa Burr, from Rainham, Kent, was one of three pedestrians to cross in front of the line of buses. Suddenly, the parked bus lurched forward, striking Ms. Burr, who was propelled forward and tragically lost her life due to multiple injuries. Ms. Mathuranayagum was thrown out of the parked bus’s door and onto the pavement. The driverless bus continued moving forward, running over Ms. Burr.
Popoola’s Account and Investigation At the scene, Popoola stated that his “foot slipped off the brake and onto the accelerator.” In a subsequent prepared statement, he described feeling a sudden collision and believing he had applied the brake too firmly. He expressed shock and believed he had caused vehicle damage but not harm to anyone. A crash investigation determined that Popoola had continued to apply the accelerator pedal after the initial impact with the stationary bus, finally using the parking brake to stop.
Verdict and Sentencing Data from Popoola’s vehicle indicated that it was traveling at around 8mph at the time of the collision, with a peak speed of 10mph just before the impact. The jury deliberated for 11 hours before delivering their verdict. Judge Rebecca Trowler KC adjourned sentencing until November 10 and ordered a pre-sentence report to be prepared by the probation service. She cautioned Popoola that the guidelines related to causing death by careless driving suggest a starting point of custody.
In conclusion, Olusofa Popoola faces potential jail time for his involvement in a fatal accident outside London’s Victoria station. While acquitted of the more serious charges, Popoola’s admission of careless driving played a significant role in the case. The tragedy underscores the importance of maintaining vigilance and adhering to road safety standards.
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