‘Runaway’ bus driver could face prosecution
THE driver of a runaway bus which caused chaos in the city centre could face prosecution, the Evening Times can reveal.
A report has been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal in connection with the incident on July 18, 2016.
Onlookers watched in horror when the No60 bus careered 100m down Renfield Street, at 3.45pm on the bank holiday Monday.
Many people were out enjoying the last of the day’s sunshine when the horrifying incident happened.
The driver of the double-decker bus reportedly got off to buy a drink and some food in nearby shops when he noticed the vehicle was rolling down hill without him.
It collided with a blue Renault Twingo at West George Street, before moving on towards the St Vincent Street junction where it hit a number of other buses.
Eye witnesses told of how they saw the man chasing the runaway bus down the street, and they heard loud banging as it crashed in to the other vehicles.
Ali Hafiz, who was manning the till at RF News, said the bus driver came into his shop to buy a drink - only to turn round and see his vehicle rolling away without him.
He said at the time: “He was in my shop for a good two minutes before he realised he’d left the handbrake off.
“He rushed out as soon as he realised his bus was moving slowly down the hill but still crashed into the Stagecoach bus.”
The crash brought one of the city centre’s main thoroughfares to a standstill for several hours, and two men were taken to hospital for treatment.
Initially the driver of the bus was suspended by bus firm First Glasgow while they launched an investigation into the incident. They have now completed the probe and say they have taken “appropriate action”.
A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: “A 54-year-old man has been subject to a report to the Procurator Fiscal in connection with alleged road traffic offences.”
A First Glasgow spokesman said: “The safety of our passengers and employees is our highest priority and therefore we were determined to find out exactly the circumstances behind the incident in Renfield Street on July 18, last year.
“We have now completed a comprehensive and rigorous internal investigation and can assure all our customers that appropriate action has been taken.”