A BUS driver has admitted driving without due care and attention after reversing his bus and trapping a teenage girl who was trying to move a disability ramp he had left out for another passenger.
Trevor Shaxon, 57, of Manor House Lane, Deepdale, Preston, was charged with driving without due care and attention and admitted the offence by letter.
The youngster suffered a broken leg in two places following the accident at 6.15pm on July 14 last year.
Preston Magistrates Court heard the defendant, who did not attend court, was behind the wheel of a blue single decker Optare bus in Bay 24.
The bus was stationary as people were getting on.
Mr Shaxon got out of his cab after seeing a wheelchair bound passenger trying to access the bus and lowered the wheelchair ramp.
The court heard once the disabled passenger was on board the defendant returned to his seat without putting the ramp back.
A group of teenage girls then got on the bus.
One of the youngsters saw the ramp was down and went to store it away.
But as she reached the ramp the bus driver started to reverse, without checking his mirrors.
As he set off he trapped the girl between the ramp and some metal barriers.
The girl suffered a broken leg in two places.
The horrific incident was caught on the bus’s CCTV.
Shaxon received seven points on his licence and a fine of £110.
He was ordered to pay £50 costs and a £15 victim’s surcharge.
John Asquith, of Preston Bus, said the driver was no longer working for the company but could not confirm if he was dismissed.
He said: “Unfortunately it was one of our local services and clearly an incident has occurred that we are liable for.
He added: “A series of circumstances led to the driver being distracted. We immediately made contact with the girl’s family. She was under 18 and her dad had parental responsibility for her. We were aware that she had suffered an injury to her leg.”