A former bus driver who was at the wheel of a double-decker when it crashed into a field in Arreton, injuring 13 people – 3 of them seriously – has walked away from court with a £450 fine and 5 penalty points.
51-year-old Paul Brookes, from Brading, appeared before Magistrates in February 2024 and denied 3 charges of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
The offences relate to a major incident that occurred back in December 2021 – some 4 years ago.
Police conducted an in-depth investigation into the crash, which saw a Southern Vectis Route 2 bus leave the road on the A3056 – near the junction with East Lane – at 39mph. Brookes was meant to turn down Merstone Lane but failed to take the turning.
As the bus hit a bank and travelled 100m into a field, 3 people on the top deck were thrown into the air, leading to all 3 sustaining broken backs. 10 other passengers on board the bus at the time also sustained injuries.
The case was sent up to the Isle of Wight Crown Court, where Brookes stated he would plead guilty – on a basis – to a lesser charge of careless driving. This was accepted by the Crown Prosecution Service. However, as the Judge was unable to give an indication of sentence, due to a lack of injury update, Brookes continued his not guilty plea to the original charge.
A charge of causing serious injury by careless driving could not be brought against Brookes as it was not an offence in law at the time of the crash.
The matter was adjourned for the trial, which was due to take place in September last year. Now, 15 months after that date, the trial has been taking place at Portsmouth Crown Court.
The jury heard from emergency service personnel who dealt with the incident and from Mr Brookes himself in a trial that lasted 2 days fewer than anticipated.
Footage of the crash showed Brookes attempting to turn the wheel when he approached the bend before deciding to drive up over the bank and into a field, bouncing in his seat as the 10-tonne bus left the road.
It wasn’t until some 4 months later that Brookes was interviewed, choosing to answer all the questions put to him. Brookes admitted to being the driver, saying: “I was in charge of the bus, I was at fault”.
During the hearing, Brookes admitted that it was “careless of me to miss the turning, but I don’t believe my driving was dangerous”. When probed by the Crown Prosecution Service, Brookes said he didn’t know why the incident happened but that he was “totally sorry”.
The court heard how Brookes had been working for Southern Vectis for around 2 years and had previously worked at Hovertravel, and had served in the Royal Navy for 10 years. After the crash, he lost his job and has since retrained as a gardener and home maintenance man.
In his 2 years with Southern Vectis, Brookes had no other accidents.
Mr Brookes said the journey on that night in December 2021 was his first of the shift and that conditions were fine, albeit dark. When probed, Brookes said he didn’t have any memory of passing the Merstone Lane junction and that he was continuing along the road as if he hadn’t yet approached it.
Footage of the bus driving past headlight-illuminated ‘SLOW’ signs in the road and towards the junction with Merstone Lane was shown to Mr Brookes who said he had ‘no memory of going past’ the signs and that it must have been a ‘momentary lapse’ – something the prosecution argued given the 18 seconds between the first slow sign and the point of impact.
The 51-year-old was praised for quickly checking on his passengers after the incident, prior to the arrival of emergency services.
After just 30 minutes of deliberation, the jury found Brookes not guilty of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and he was instead sentenced for 3 counts of careless driving, a lesser charge.
Judge Sawyer handed him a £150 fine on each count and endorsed his previously clean driving licence with 5 penalty points. Brookes was also ordered to pay a £45 victim surcharge fee.
So who was as at fault not the passengers ? That junction for locals especially the bus drivers that drive it all the time should know you have to slow down? I hope the people in the bus injured have recovered and received support be it financially or mental support as that must of been really frightening. An error of judgment could have been a lot worse???
And how the 3 people who sustained broken backs ?????
Why has it taken this long to sort out ?
Hurt someones feeling on social media and get locked up in a week
I’ve noticed since having a bus pass that some drivers go much faster than others and occasionally feel anxious though have never complained. Perhaps I should!
an unfortunate accident that could have been far worse, had the driver not decided to abandon the turn and drive into the field. If he had taken that turn, chances are the bus would have tipped over.
the fact that the driver had the presence of mind to realise the situation, assess that he couldn’t make the turn and took a less dangerous option, shows that he genuinely believed the turn he needed was still ahead and not already behind him and that he was in fact in control of the vehicle and not driving it dangerously.
No attempt to reclaim any of the thousands paid out to the injured passengers in compensation.Thank heavens for the taxpayers.
Nowhere near enough of a punishment. When you think that someone who commits a shoplifting offence can be fined more than that, and this guy caused untold amounts of suffering, grief, misery and pain. Seems like the system cocked things up and allowed him to get away with it.
Sounds about right for the justice system over here. Slap on the wrist , fine and points. Yep he’s really learnt his lesson.
My sympathy to the passengers injured , probably with life long symptoms