A bus driver who drove into a woman on a pedestrian crossing killing her in the impact was jailed for 15 months on Thursday December 17.
Driver Paul Udris had failed to spot the crossing’s lights change to red, with tragic consequences.
As wife and mother Mrs Shama Kalyan stepped out onto the crossing in Bedford, Mr Udris’ single-decker bus struck her, causing serious head injuries from which she died.
Today, three years after the tragedy, 62-year-old Udris of Harewood Road, Bedford, appeared at Luton Crown Court, where he admitted a charge of causing the death of 54-year-old Mrs Kalyan by his dangerous driving.
The court was told the experienced bus driver with a previous unblemished driving record could offer no explanation as to why he had failed to see the change of lights at the crossing in Ampthill Road, Bedford.
Prosecutor Nigel Ogborne said it was on the morning of Monday December 18, 2017 that Udris, a single man who had lived all his life with his parents, was behind the wheel of his single-decker bus as it travelled south along the A6 Ampthill Road away from the town centre.
As a local bus driver, he knew the road and the crossing well.
The court heard that just before 11.40am, Mrs Kalyan was making her way home having finished work and was waiting at the crossing, 40 metres north of the junction with Lynton Grove, for the lights to change so that she could cross the road.
Mr Ogborne said that although the driver failed to spot the lights at the crossing had change to red, some of his passengers hadn’t.
“Four to five witnesses on board the bus state the traffic lights for traffic were red.
“The bus failed to stop and collided with Mrs Kalyan, who sustained serious head injuries,” he said.
She was airlifted to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, but unfortunately died from her injuries.
Mr Udris was tested for alcohol, cannabis and cocaine at the scene, with all the results proving negative.
The prosecutor said the lights and controls at the crossing were checked and found to be working correctly.
He said that the police investigation that followed established Udris would have a good view of the crossing and lights for in excess of 200 metres.
Judge Mark Bishop, hearing the case, was told the bus had no defects that could have contributed to the collision.
Mr Ogborne then told the court the vehicle’s CCTV system was examined by investigating officers which showed it approaching the crossing.
He said from 155 metres away the bus was travelling at 15 mph and the lights were on green.
Sixty-two metres from the crossing the bus was travelling at 17 mph with the lights on Amber.
By the time the bus was 39 metres the lights were on red and it was travelling at 19 mph.
The prosecutor said that with the lights for the approaching bus still on red, Mrs Kalyan stepped off the pavement with the vehicle 11 metres away and travelling at 16mph.
She was struck almost immediately and the bus’s nearside windscreen was smashed in the impact.
The court was told the bus was being operated by Stagecoach East and, as a local and experienced driver, Udris would have known the location of the crossing.
The court was told the husband and children of Mrs Kalyan had been left devastated by her death and living in the area they regularly had to pass by the scene, prompting flash backs and painful memories.
Oliver Renton, defending, said a number of passengers on board the bus that day had spoken of the glare from the sun, with one describing it as ‘low, bright and dazzling’.
He told the court that Udris at the time had been experiencing the stress and strains of caring for his elderly father who had dementia, which could have affected his concentration that day.
Mr Renton said that even one of the investigating police officers had referred to the driver that day as “Looking without seeing.”
The court was told he had lost his job as a bus driver as a result of what happened and now doesn’t think he will ever work again. Mr Renton said the remorse his client now felt, was ‘very real’.
Passing sentence judge Bishop said: “This offence has caused the tragic death of Mrs Kalyan with all the consequential loss to her family and in particular her husband of 33 years.
“No sentence I can pass can restore to the family what they have lost and everyone in court will want to extend their condolences to the husband and his family.
“The judge said the examination of the CCTV footage from the bus showed that as it approached the crossing, it was in shade and therefore the glare of the sun had not been a contributory factor.
“He said the view of a doctor who had prepared a report for the case was that Udris showed traits for a schizoid personality disorder which affected his ability to cope with stress and could lead to lapses in concentration.”
He jailed him for 15 months, explaining that he will have to serve half that time in prison before he is released on licence. Udris was disqualified from driving for 10 years.
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