Bus driver Kailash Chander has appeared in court charged with killing a seven-year-old passenger and a pedestrian in a city centre crash
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.
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 in Coventry city centre
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
Rowan Fitzgerald (left), seven, was sitting on the top deck with his grandfather when he was killed in the crash. Pedestrian Dora Hancox (right), 76, died when she was hit by the bus
The sentencing hearing was also adjourned until December 11.
Rowan was sitting with his eight-year-old cousin and their grandfather on the X18 bus as it returned from Coventry to their home in Leamington Spa.
The girl suffered multiple face and head injuries and was treated at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
Mrs Hancox, a retired foster carer from Nuneaton, Warks., was walking past the shop when she was hit.
An inquest into their deaths found Rowan died from blunt head trauma, when the bus struck the top of the shop, while Mrs Hancox suffered multiple injuries.
Speaking at the time of the tragedy, Rowan’s parents said: ‘Rowan was an adorable caring person who gave so much love to anyone he met.
‘He was a handsome little boy, whose cheeky smile lit up any room.
‘He made life full of laughter with never a dull moment and always kept us going with his cheeky little ways.
‘He loved his sports, especially football.
‘He was returning from the Ricoh Arena when this tragedy happened.’
Kailash Chander, pictured here during his spell as the mayor of Leamington Spa, was granted unconditional bail at Warwick Crown Court
An inquest into the victims’ deaths found Rowan died from blunt head trauma when the bus struck the top of the Sainsbury’s supermarket, while Mrs Hancox suffered multiple injuries
Chander’s 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