Bus driver in the dock after fatal crash

A London bus driver appeared in court after a crash with another single decker left one woman dead and another seriously injured.

Olusofa Popoola, 59, is accused of causing the death by dangerous driving of 32-year-old Melissa Burr on August 10 last year.

Popoola was the driver of an electric 507 single decker which crashed into the back of another bus at busy at Victoria Station.

Popoola is also accused of seriously injuring another woman, Diana Mathuranayagam, in the same crash.

He appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court today (weds) wearing a dark blue suit and a light blue shirt.

‘Both charges pertain to dangerous driving’, said Tony Meisels, defending.

Ms Burr, from Rainham in Kent, was walking between the two 507 single deckers at the time of the collision at around 8.25am.

Popoola, from Peckham, is charged with causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

The bus driver was granted unconditional bail ahead of a plea and trial preparation hearing at Southwark Crown Court on 28 September.

In a statement released after Ms Burr’s death her family said: ‘We are absolutely devastated by loss and the hole that this incident has left in our lives.

‘Melissa was a kind and thoughtful soul, had a quirky charm with such a bright future ahead of her.’