Ex-mayor, 79, who became bus driver 'killed seven-year-old boy and elderly pedestrian when he crashed in city centre'

Wednesday 11th October 2017 19:04 EDT
 

A 79-year-old bus driver has appeared in court charged with killing a seven-year-old passenger and a pedestrian in a city centre crash.

The former mayor of Leamington Spa Kailash Chander is accused of losing control of the 13-ton Stagecoach bus which rammed into a Sainsbury's supermarket.

Seven-year-old Rowan Fitzgerald was sitting on the top deck with his grandfather when he was killed in the crash which happened at 6pm on October 3, 2015.

Dora Hancox, 76, also died when she was hit by the bus as she walked past the cash machine of the supermarket on Trinity Street in Coventry city centre.

Chander, of Leamington Spa, Warks., appeared at Warwick Crown Court on Monday charged with two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

The former Labour councillor, wearing a dark blue pinstripe suit and carrying a walking stick, sat motionless during the 45-minute hearing where he spoke only to confirm his name.

He was granted unconditional bail with the date of next hearing to be confirmed, provisionally at Birmingham Crown Court in the week commencing December 11.

His employer, Midland Red South Ltd, was in court after pleading guilty to two counts of failing to discharge the employer's general duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.


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