Bus driver who crashed coach with 29 children on board after entering roundabout at 50mph is banned from driving
A bus driver who crashed into a bus containing children after entering a roundabout at 80 kilometers per hour has been banned from getting behind the wheel.
Brett Jarvis, of Honey Hill, Lamburn, was ‘screaming’ as he crashed into the school bus traveling at ‘inappropriate’ speed.
Jarvis, 48, appeared at Aldershot Magistrates’ Court on Monday and pleaded guilty to one count of driving without due care and attention.
He was fined £564 and banned from driving for six months because he already had six points on his licence.
The attack occurred on September 25 on the A36 near Southampton, Hampshire, between the Ower junction and Junction 2 of the M27.
Police arrived at the scene at 7.59am and found the bus traveling at 50mph across one lane of the A36 towards the junction. He continued in the second lane as he entered the roundabout.
The bus continued traveling south along the eastbound lane of the intersection before crashing into the embankment it was on.
There were 29 children and 4 adults on the plane at the time of the accident. All of the children were uninjured and one adult suffered a leg injury.
Brett Jarvis (pictured) outside Aldershot Magistrates’ Court. He was given a six-month driving disqualification and a fine after crashing into a bus with 29 children on board
Jarvis appeared at Aldershot Magistrates’ Court on Monday (pictured) and pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention
Prosecutor Kirsty Lavery said: ‘The defendant was heading southbound towards the second junction.
‘As he approached the roundabout he failed to negotiate the shallow left lane, entering it directly and colliding with the offside ARMCO barrier before exiting onto the roundabout.’
Ms Lavery read written statements from witnesses who recalled hearing Jarvis’ screams as well as a series of crashes and the coach falling to the ground at a 30-degree angle.
District Judge Stephen Apted found Jarvis fell into the maximum harm and moderate culpability category under the Sentencing Council rules for driving without due care and attention.
He said: ‘This was an unsafe position and you were driving at a speed that was not appropriate for the conditions.
‘There was injury to others, damage to vehicles or property, and other aggravating circumstances.
‘This was clearly a commercial vehicle and in addition there were passengers on board, including children.’
Jarvis, who represented himself in court, said being disqualified from driving would put a financial burden on his family.
He said: ‘My wife won’t be able to work because I drive her to and from work every day.
‘I’m the only driver in the family.’
