DVSA PROBES DAD’S CLAIMS DRIVERLESS BUS ROLLED ACROSS ROAD
AN investigation has been launched into claims a runaway bus rolled out of its yard and into oncoming traffic.
Chris Jones and his partner Amber Smith said they had a lucky escape when the bus, which had no driver on board, crashed into a signpost across the road from its depot.
The coach, owned by Goodsir Coaches, came to a stop on the opposite site of the road from its base on Victoria Road, Holyhead, said Mr Jones.
Mr Jones, who was walking to pick up his eight-year-old son at nearby Ysgol St Mary’s, in Holyhead, at around 3pm last Wednesday, described hearing a loud bang.
He said the bus had narrowly missed a blue van that was being driven along the road at the time.
He added: “We could have been killed, as literally seconds before we were walking across the pavement where the bus went over.
“It’s very lucky other pedestrians were not injured or killed as it was school pick up time.”
“It’s also a very busy road and area as Holyhead train station is just yards away,” he added.
Mr Jones said a driver ran out of the yard, jumped into the bus and reversed it back to the coach company’s yard.
“He reversed the bus as quickly as possible. He didn’t even bother to look under the bus to see if it had hit a pedestrian.
“I’ve reported the incident to the DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency), as it was a dangerous incident.”
Goodsir Coaches, which was established in 1972, was approached for a comment.
The staff member who answered the phone said they “didn’t know about any incident”, and the phone was put down on us three times.
DVSA enforcement manager for Wales David Collings says: “DVSA’s priority is to protect everyone from unsafe drivers and vehicles.
“As this is an ongoing investigation, we cannot discuss this further.
“If members of the public wish to report safety issues with buses or coaches they can do so in confidence on 0300 123 9000.”