A FORMER Leamington mayor was behind the wheel of the double decker bus that crashed into a supermarket in Coventry city centre killing two people.
A seven-year-old boy on the top deck, and a Nuneaton woman believed to be in her 70s, who was a pedestrian on Trinity Street, both died at the scene as a result of their injuries.
Kailash Chander – a former Labour councillor and town mayor back in 2008 – was driving the 17.33 X18 service, when it ploughed into the side of the Sainsbury’s store on the corner of Trinity Street and Hales Street around 6pm on Saturday (October 3) after colliding with a number of stationary cars and a lamppost.
The 77-year-old, who has worked for Stagecoach Midlands for 42 years, is assisting police with their inquiries and is understood to be recovering at home following the crash.
He was treated at University Hospital in Coventry for neck and shoulder injuries before being released.
An eight year-old girl – who was the cousin of the little boy who died – remains in a stable condition at Birmingham Children’s Hospital after she received injuries to her face, head and right leg, as well as suspected suspected chest, abdominal and pelvic injuries in the smash.
Four other people suffered injuries and received hospital treatment at University Hospital in Coventry – a man in his 20s who suffered a broken arm, a man with a minor leg injury, a woman in her 60s with leg and arm injuries, and a man with a minor injury.
Police investigating the fatal collision are urging for any witnesses who have not yet come forward to contact them.
Officers are aware of a number of people who have spoken about seeing what happened on Saturday night, but have yet to give statements to police.
Insp Paul Bennett from West Midlands Police, said: “Investigations are ongoing but we are aware of a number of vital witnesses we are yet to speak to.
“We know there were possibly hundreds of people at the crash scene on Saturday evening and I would urge these people to come forward as soon as possible and give statements.”
Insp Bennett also called on anyone with images or footage from the scene to contact police.
He added: “I would like to thank all the people who have already come forward and helped us with our enquiries into this tragic event.”
Call police on 101 quoting log 1017 of 4/10/15.
