Bus driver fined for accident on crossing

The driver of a double-decker bus that hit a pedestrian using a zebra crossing in Wednesbury, knocking him to the floor, has been fined by magistrates.

Gregory Edwards was behind the wheel of a National Express bus that hit William Malcolm as he used the crossing near Wednesbury Bus Station.

Passengers were on board at the time and the victim, who suffered cuts and bruises, had to go to hospital. Sandwell Magistrates Court yesterday heard that 30-year-old Edwards had been allowed to keep his job.

Prosecutor Mrs Lauranne Middleton said Mr Malcolm, 51, was hit by the front nearside corner of the bus.

"The pedestrian sustained slight injuries as a result of the road traffic collision, having cuts and grazes to is right side and pain and discomfort to his left, for which he was prescribed paink-illers at hospital," she said.

The court heard that the 79 bus, which links Wolverhampton and West Bromwich, was pulling into Wednesbury Bus Station from Holyhead Road when the accident happened at about 8am on May 26.

CCTV footage captured the moment the bus hit Mr Malcolm. "CCTV confirms the driver was at fault," added Mrs Middleton.

Edwards, of Brough Close in Wolverhampton, pleaded guilty to counts of driving without due care and attention and failing to accord precedence to a pedestrian who was on the carriageway within the limits of an uncontrolled Zebra crossing.

Magistrates fined him £80 and ordered him to pay £80 costs as well as a £15 victim surcharge. Three penalty points were added to his licence. Chairman of the bench Glenise

Edwards said: "We have taken into account your early guilty plea and we have also taken into account that your employer has dec-ided only to give you a caution."

Speaking after the case, Edwards, who represented himself at the hearing and has worked for National Express for the past five years, said there were about 10 people on board the bus at the time of the crash.

"The bus has a massive blind spot and I just didn't see him," he said.