Driver 'passed four warning signs' before bus hit bridge

Driver Trevor Wilson ignored shouts to slow down after asking a student for directions to the Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, in Darlington.

Shocked onlookers watched helplessly as the Compass Royston bus crashed into the bridge in Neasham Road shortly before 9am on September 22.

The full details of the crash, which resulted in one student suffering a broken collarbone and a further 11 requiring hospital treatment, were given to Darlington Magistrates’ Court yesterday when Wilson pleaded guilty to dangerous driving.

Jacqueline Gibson, prosecuting, said that Wilson, 51, of Wellington Walk, Stockton, asked a student to direct him to the college and did not respond to shouts telling him to slow down as he approached the low bridge.

“The student couldn’t remember the way so decided to rely on signs leading to the school,” added Mrs Gibson.

“Around 150 yards before the bus took a right turn on to Neasham Road from the A66 Darlington Football Club turn off there was a sign saying high vehicles could not get under the bridge.

“There was also a sign at the roundabout and a further two signs along Neasham Road, including one on the bridge itself saying that high vehicles could not get under the bridge.

“The student who was helping with the directions could clearly see that the bus was too tall to make it under the bridge so called to the driver to stop. She said he did not respond and presumably could not hear her.”

One witness, who was in his car behind the bus, said he expected the bus to stop and was surprised when it continued under the bridge.

“He said the bus was travelling at about 30mph at the point of collision,” said Mrs Gibson.

“He could see a number of students sitting on the top deck who he described as looking bewildered as the roof was taken off by the bridge.”

Wilson told police that he had been a bus driver for about 30 years but had not driven a double-decker bus for nearly a decade.

Despite Compass Royston’s claim that a full support network and training was open to its drivers, Wilson claimed that he was told the students would “keep him right”, which was said to be “common practice”.

The company vehemently denies the claims and was expected to give evidence at Wilson’s trial, which was set for February 11 after his original not guilty plea at his first hearing on November 10, last year.

Simon Walker, mitigating, said that Wilson had never been in trouble with the law and had had a clean driving licence since passing his test in 1981.

Speaking outside the court, a friend of the defendant, who did not want to be named, said: “This has had such a big impact on Trevor and his wife – it really isn’t fair.

“He made a mistake but, in fairness, he had not driven a double-decker bus for many years and the company should have made provisions for him not knowing the route.”

Compass Royston’s managing director, Gary Walton, said that despite Wilson not knowing the route, help was available to him should he have asked.

Mr Walton said the company had been investigated by both the police and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency and had been cleared of all wrongdoing.

Sentencing was adjourned until January 26 so a full presentence report could be prepared.