Bus driver on trial over death of pedestrian

A bus driver who knocked over and killed an 83-year-old woman as she crossed the road has gone on trial accused of causing death by careless driving.

Ozdemir Zia, 76, was turning on to Vincent Road next to Woolwich Arsenal station, south-east London, when the double-decker bus he was driving hit Edna McLean on the morning of 11 September 2021.

Mrs McLean suffered brain injuries and was airlifted to hospital but never regained consciousness and died two days later, the Old Bailey was told.

Mr Zia, of Kidbrooke, south-east London, denies the charge.

Another pedestrian heard the noise of the bus hitting Mrs McLean and looked round to see her body travelling through the air, jurors were told.

When he was spoken to by police at the scene, Mr Zia said he had not seen Mrs McLean until immediately before the collision and then applied the brakes.

He added that people do not always look before crossing the road, prosecutor Nadeem Holland said.

CCTV footage was played in court showing the collision with Mrs McLean and members of the public rushing over to help as she lay on the road.

Traffic collision experts concluded the driver began turning into Vincent Road while his view obscured by another bus, Mr Holland said.

A pillar inside the bus created a "blind spot" but the driver could have moved his head and upper body to look around it, he told jurors.

Mr Holland said: "It is the prosecution's case that the CCTV footage demonstrates that the defendant's driving fell below the standard expected of a reasonable, careful and competent driver.

"The defendant did not take sufficient steps to cater for the possibility of pedestrians crossing Vincent Road as he turned into the road."

He said that although the defendant was not speeding, he should have been travelling more slowly to give him extra time for the manoeuvre.

The defendant should have also moved to mitigate the blind spot created by the pillar in the bus and waited for the second bus to clear his field of vision before turning into Vincent Road, the prosecutor said.

The trial continues.

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