worldA UK bus driver has been sentenced after killing a pedestrian, striking her while he was reading while driving.
Simon Mumford, 54, was driving a single-decker bus through Plymouth, in southwest England on January 7 at 6.40pm.
He had made various stops before coming to a pedestrian crossing near a grocery store called Sainsbury’s.
CCTV showed Mumford looking down at a piece of paper, lowering his glasses to read for a few seconds while the bus was still moving.
At the same time, Amallia Elmasry began crossing the road as the traffic lights changed.
Mumford was still looking at the paper when he hit her, killing her.
The driver stopped the bus immediately after.
“This is a tragic case which again demonstrates that even relatively brief periods of distraction on the road can have fatal consequences,” police sergeant Samantha Pullen said.
“There is no doubt Simon Mumford did not intend to take a life that day, but by taking his eyes off the road to read the piece of paper, he did not spot Amallia Elmasry crossing, leading to the collision that resulted in her tragic death.
“We’d like to express our sincere condolences to Mrs Elmasry’s family and remind motorists that regardless of what vehicle they drive, they must remain focused on the road at all times to ensure the safety of themselves and others.”
The bus driver was sentenced to two years in prison on December 12 (local time) after pleading guilty to death by dangerous driving.
His licence was also disqualified for six years.
