A BUS driver is facing a likely prison sentence following the death of a young man he hit while on his route earlier this year.
James O’Reilly, of Wellington Avenue, Stratford, pleaded guilty at Warwick Crown Court to causing the death of Waqas Hussain by careless driving.
The charge follows a tragic incident in Foleshill Road, Coventry, at around 2pm on Wednesday January 11.
Twenty-year-old Mr Hussain, who was from Coventry, was hit by a National Express bus being driven by 54 year-old O’Reilly, and with shocked passengers on board.
Following the collision at the junction with Edmund Road, Mr Hussain suffered cardiac arrest, and his heart was re-started by paramedics before he was rushed to hospital by ambulance.
But his injuries were so severe that he died two days later after the life support machine was turned off, with his father by his bedside holding his hand.
Foleshill Road, one of the main arteries into Coventry city centre, was closed for a number of hours after the fatal collision as accident investigators examined the scene.
After O’Reilly had entered his plea, his barrister Andrew Tucker asked for the case to be adjourned for a pre-sentence report to be prepared on him.
Judge Andrew Lockhart QC agreed, but warned O’Reilly that the preparation of the report, and the fact that he was being granted unconditional bail, were not to be taken as an indication of the sentence he will receive.
Judge Lockhart said the sentencing hearing should take place on a fixed date of November 2, to give Mr Hussain’s family, who were not at court to hear O’Reilly’s plea, the opportunity to attend if they wish to do so.
