Bus driver spared jail for running over tragic pensioner
AWEST Lancs bus driver who ran over and killed a beloved nan while working has walked free from court.
Audrey Williams suffered “catastrophic injuries” after she was hit by a double-decker bus in 2020.
It was said that Kenneth Cherry, 73, the driver, failed to check a blind spot before setting off from a pedestrian crossing and fatally knocked down the 63-year-old victim.
Liverpool Magistrates Court heard how the long-serving worker was driving the 10A service between Liverpool and St Helens shortly before 11am on November 19, 2020.
Approaching the bus depot on Bickerstaffe Street, Cherry, of Colburne Close in Burscough, stopped at a red light, slightly over the white line.
At the time, Ms Williams was walking to the bank, and entered the crossing from the left as the light turned from red to amber. Rules explained in the Highway Code say that a motorist cannot pass a junction until the lights return to green.
However, Cherry failed to look in this direction as he started to move the bus off. The court heard how the driver knocked over Ms Williams and ran over her lower legs, leaving the pedestrian “screaming out in pain”.
The beloved nan was left unconscious at the scene with paramedics performing CPR multiple times.
She was rushed to Whiston Hospital, but was pronounced dead shortly afterwards as a result of “severe pelvic and leg injuries”.
Cherry stopped after the collision and admitted to police that he had not checked the blind spot to his left before driving. He pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving during an earlier hearing.
A statement read out to the court on behalf of Ms Williams’ daughter Victoria said: “I feel for the poor bus driver.
“Unfortunately, accidents happen. He knows he is guilty and he has pleaded guilty. I strongly believe that the guilt he will feel for the rest of his life will be enough punishment – he has suffered enough.”
Ms Williams’ partner meanwhile was described as being ‘lost without her’.
Cherry, who has no previous convictions, has worked as a bus driver since he was 21. Since the crash, he is no longer employed by the company and has not driven since.
Defending, Peter Wilson told the court: “Mr Cherry had a near 50-year career driving buses or being on the buses. It’s something he found great pleasure in. To have this happen so late in his career and his life is something that will haunt him forever. He has made a terrible error of judgement and he has sleepless nights over it.
“All he can say is sorry. There’s nothing else Mr Cherry can do other than apologise.”
Cherry wasn’t jailed, but instead handed a 20-week imprisonment suspended for 18 months.
Sentencing, District Judge Timothy Boswell told Cherry: “You are distraught about what happened and genuinely remorseful. Of course, you did not go out that day with any intention of driving badly. If you could change things, no doubt you would. But the standard of driving fell below that of a careful and competent driver.
“Nothing I can do can reflect the pain and friend felt by Ms Williams’ family. It’s clear how loved she was and the impact her passing has had on those around her. The family bravely recognise that you too have suffered and will live with the guilt for the rest of your life.”
Cherry was also handed 100 hours of unpaid work, banned from driving for two years and told to pay a £128 victim surcharge plus £85 in court costs.