Man sentenced after Winchester school bus crash

A man has been jailed for three years for causing serious injury by dangerous driving after a school bus crashed into a bridge causing the roof to be ripped from the vehicle.

 

Martin Robert Walker, 36, of Burke Drive in Southampton pleaded guilty to three counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving at Winchester Crown Court on 5 May.

 

He was today, Friday 9 July, sentenced to three years in jail. He will also be disqualified from driving for three years, extended for 18 months to take account the period in custody. 

 

The court heard how on 10 September 2020, Walker was driving a double decker bus on Wellhouse Lane, Winchester, when it was in collision with the railway bridge.

 

As a result of the collision, forty-one students aged between 10 and 15-years-old sustained minor injuries and three sustained life-changing facial injuries.

 

The double-decker bus, on a contract with Stagecoach, was being used as a school bus to take students to the Henry Beaufort Secondary School.

 

The court also heard how the collision was a result of Walker not taking the correct route down Bedfield Lane, and instead continuing onto Wellhouse Lane.

 

It was reported that several students voicing concerns that the bus had taken the incorrect route, and were shouting at Walker that the bus would not fit under the bridge and that he needed to turn around.

 

Statements heard in court showed that Walker had time to turn around after having to stop and let a car pass under the bridge before him.

 

Instead, he accelerated forward and under the bridge despite signs indicating that the bridge was subject to a 12ft height restriction, and the bus having a height of 13ft 11ins.

 

Walker continued to drive through the tunnel after the collision, ripping the entire roof of the bus from the vehicle.

 

DC Cate Paling, of the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “Mr Walker’s driving clearly fell far below that of a competent and careful driver, and it was obvious to all the students on the bus that the vehicle would not fit below the bridge.

 

“This was a serious misjudgment on Walker’s part, and a moment of carelessness had drastic consequences.

 

“Three young people now have to live with life-changing facial injuries. It’s lucky that no one was killed, but this just goes to show how dangerous not paying full attention when driving can be.”

 

“We welcome the sentence handed out by the Crown Court today and want to remind anyone that drives in this manner and endangers the lives of others that you will be prosecuted.”