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| Coventry supermarket death crash bus firm fined £2.3m | Coventry supermarket death crash bus firm fined £2.3m |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A bus company has been fined £2.3m after ignoring warnings about an "erratic" driver who crashed into a supermarket, killing two people. | A bus company has been fined £2.3m after ignoring warnings about an "erratic" driver who crashed into a supermarket, killing two people. |
| Midland Red (South) Ltd admitted health and safety breaches after Kailash Chander, then aged 77, smashed into a Sainsbury's in Coventry in 2015. | |
| Mr Chander had been driving dangerously when he mistook the accelerator for the brake, a fact finding trial concluded. | Mr Chander had been driving dangerously when he mistook the accelerator for the brake, a fact finding trial concluded. |
| The former mayor, now 80, was deemed unfit to stand trial due to dementia. | The former mayor, now 80, was deemed unfit to stand trial due to dementia. |
| Midland Red (South) Ltd was sentenced alongside Mr Chander, who received a two-year medical supervision order, after a two-day hearing at Birmingham Crown Court. | Midland Red (South) Ltd was sentenced alongside Mr Chander, who received a two-year medical supervision order, after a two-day hearing at Birmingham Crown Court. |
| Mr Chander had been warned about his "erratic" driving by the company after four crashes in three years, the trial of facts found in September. | Mr Chander had been warned about his "erratic" driving by the company after four crashes in three years, the trial of facts found in September. |
| The bus company, which is part of Stagecoach group, admitted allowing Mr Chander to work more than 70-hours a week. | The bus company, which is part of Stagecoach group, admitted allowing Mr Chander to work more than 70-hours a week. |
| It also admitted allowing him to continue working despite warnings about his driving. | It also admitted allowing him to continue working despite warnings about his driving. |
| Judge Paul Farrer said "the failings of the company were a significant cause" of the crash. | Judge Paul Farrer said "the failings of the company were a significant cause" of the crash. |
| Warnings about Mr Chander were "not enforced, and almost immediately ignored," he said. | Warnings about Mr Chander were "not enforced, and almost immediately ignored," he said. |
| Phil Medlicott, managing director of Midland Red (South) Ltd said the company was "deeply sorry" and "bears the weight of our responsibility for this tragedy". | Phil Medlicott, managing director of Midland Red (South) Ltd said the company was "deeply sorry" and "bears the weight of our responsibility for this tragedy". |
| "We deeply regret the opportunities that were missed to act decisively on emerging warning signs," he said. | "We deeply regret the opportunities that were missed to act decisively on emerging warning signs," he said. |
| Seven-year-old Rowan Fitzgerald was riding on the top deck and died of a head injury when the bus crashed on Trinity Street on 3 October 2015. | Seven-year-old Rowan Fitzgerald was riding on the top deck and died of a head injury when the bus crashed on Trinity Street on 3 October 2015. |
| Rowan's mother, Natasha Wilson, said her son "had a heart of gold - he was our sunshine on hard days". | Rowan's mother, Natasha Wilson, said her son "had a heart of gold - he was our sunshine on hard days". |
| Pedestrian Dora Hancox, 76, died after being struck by the bus and a falling lamppost. | Pedestrian Dora Hancox, 76, died after being struck by the bus and a falling lamppost. |
| Her daughter Katrina said she felt "cheated as I never got to say goodbye to her". | Her daughter Katrina said she felt "cheated as I never got to say goodbye to her". |
| Mr Chander's barrister Robert Smith told the court the former Leamington Spa mayor was "traumatised" by the crash and now required full-time care. | Mr Chander's barrister Robert Smith told the court the former Leamington Spa mayor was "traumatised" by the crash and now required full-time care. |
| An expert told the court he may have been suffering from undiagnosed dementia at the time of the crash. | An expert told the court he may have been suffering from undiagnosed dementia at the time of the crash. |
| The company has "made several key changes", Mr Medlicott said, including stronger controls on working hours and more medical testing for drivers. | The company has "made several key changes", Mr Medlicott said, including stronger controls on working hours and more medical testing for drivers. |
| "We cannot turn back the clock in this case, but we have done everything possible to learn lessons," he said. | "We cannot turn back the clock in this case, but we have done everything possible to learn lessons," he said. |