In a tragic incident that unfolded outside London Victoria railway station, a bus driver named Olusofa Popoola, 61, has been spared a jail sentence after a fatal accident resulted in the death of a pedestrian, Melissa Burr, from Rainham.
The devastating incident occurred on the morning of August 10, 2021, at Terminus Place when Popoola accidentally accelerated into the back of a stationary bus, causing it to collide with Ms Burr, who was 32 years old at the time. Sadly, Ms Burr succumbed to multiple injuries sustained in the accident, and Diane Mathuranayagum, the other bus driver, suffered a fractured eye socket.
During the court proceedings, Popoola, a resident of Peckham in south-east London, admitted to causing Ms. Burr’s death by careless driving, asserting that he had mistakenly pressed the accelerator instead of the brake pedal. However, after a retrial, he was acquitted of the more serious charges of causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury to the other driver.
On Friday, Judge Rebecca Trowler delivered Popoola’s sentence at the Old Bailey, imposing an 18-month prison term, which was suspended for two years. Judge Trowler cited “personal mitigation” as the basis for her decision and also expressed consideration for the impact of high prison populations on the prison system.
During the court proceedings, Ms Burr’s family was overcome with grief as Popoola walked free from the courtroom. Judge Trowler acknowledged that Popoola’s driving had fallen “just short of dangerous driving” and emphasized that Ms. Burr had played no role in her own tragic death.
According to the judge’s account of the incident, on a fateful morning, Ms Burr had been on her way to work, following her usual routine. Just before 8:30 am, while using a pedestrian walkway at the bus station, she crossed toward the door of a parked 507 bus. Tragically, the bus she was approaching was shunted forward from behind by Popoola’s bus, leading to a collision in which Ms Burr was struck by the front bus. She was knocked to the ground and subsequently run over by the bus Popoola was driving, resulting in her immediate and tragic death.
In a heartfelt tribute, Judge Trowler recognized the “dignity” exhibited by Ms Burr’s family during the trials, despite the distressing nature of the proceedings. Ms. Burr’s mother, Trish, and her brother, Graham Burr, both expressed their incomprehension at how an experienced professional driver like Popoola could have made such a grave mistake. Trish Burr conveyed the devastating impact on her family, describing the loss of her daughter as a “life sentence.”
As part of Popoola’s sentence, Judge Trowler ordered him to complete 140 hours of unpaid work and imposed a three-year driving ban. Popoola, who had lost his job due to the accident, has since embarked on a new path by studying cyber security. The accident left him deeply affected and haunted by the tragic loss of life.
