Bus driver accused of killing man

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A Kent bus driver drove at a man who tried to confront him over damage caused to his truck, a court has heard.

Martin Barlow, 30, of Rochester, was struck by the Arriva bus driven by Christopher Eggleton.

He was dragged for 400m before being thrown clear into the road with fatal injuries, Maidstone Crown Court heard.

Mr Eggleton, 46, denies manslaughter and causing death by dangerous driving but admits causing death by careless driving.

The court heard Mr Barlow suspected a bus of causing damage to his pick-up truck while it was parked outside his home in Catherine Street.

'Arms outstretched'

Prosecutor Richard Barraclough QC said that on 3 April 2009 he decided to flag down buses in an attempt to find the driver responsible.

Mr Barlow approached Mr Eggleton's single-decker bus at around 2040 GMT with his arms outstretched, according to an eyewitness.

Jurors were told that as he was about to reach the driver's side, the bus driver revved his engine and then moved forward towards him.

Mr Barraclough said: "Mr Eggleton knew that he was there but moved his bus forward nevertheless.

"Mr Barlow ended up holding on to the windscreen wiper on the near side of the bus and well within Mr Eggleton's view, and he was dragged under the bus."

'Grossly negligent'

Mr Eggleton, of Dale Street, Chatham, carried on to his bus depot in Gillingham where he told colleagues that he thought he had just killed someone, the court heard.

Mr Barraclough said: "He made up a story about three or four men surrounding his bus and banging on the sides and shouting.

"He said that he panicked and continued to move to encourage the man who died to move away."

He added: "The prosecution's case is that he used his bus to assault Barlow or his driving was so appalling, so grossly negligent, that he is not just guilty of dangerous driving but he is guilty of manslaughter, which is the principal charge."

The trial continues.