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Nigerian Bus Driver In UK Unintentionally Killed A Pedestrian By Running Over Her
Olisofa Popoola, a 60-year-old bus driver from Nigeria, was charged in a UK court on Monday, March 20, 2023, with killing a pedestrian in London.
In front of London’s Victoria Station, Popoola was operating an electric 507 single-decker bus when he collided with another bus, killing 32-year-old Melissa Burr.
Jurors were told that Popoola accidentally used the accelerator instead of the brake while attempting to propel his car ahead, crashing into the back of another 507 bus that was waiting to pick up passengers outside the train station.
Instead of stopping the bus, he continued driving forward even after hitting the other vehicle. Sadly, Ms. Burr was crossing the road at the time of the crash and was knocked down before getting crushed under the vehicle.
It was gathered that the driver of the second bus, Diana Mathuranayagam, was flung from her vehicle and suffered a badly fractured eye socket.
The tragic crash happened around 8.25am on 10 August 2021, when Burr, from Rainham, Kent, was crossing the road with two colleagues.
Following the crash, Popoola told the police, “My foot slipped off the brake and onto the accelerator and I have collided with the bus in front.”
According to Prosecutor Alexander Williams, Popoola admitted responsibility for the crash but claims it was due to careless rather than dangerous driving.
Meanwhile, the trial is still ongoing and no judgement has been given yet.
