Bus driver knocked over teenager putting him in a coma

Eighteen-year-old Lennon Allen was struck by the single-decker Arriva bus on Corporation Street, in St Helens as he was walking home from a pub at 11 pm on March 30 this year.

Liverpool, Knowsley and St Helens Magistrates' Court heard that Shaun Thompson was driving the bus along Parr Street towards the town centre bus station.

Mr Allen walked into the road and into the path of the bus and was struck and thrown on to the road, said Scott Woodward, prosecuting.

Thompson was sentenced at Liverpool, Knowsley & St Helens Magistrates' Court, at the QEII Courts in Liverpool (Image: Stock)

“The bus was driving within the speed limit but it failed to indicate prior to turning on to Corporation Street. He appears to have emergency braked and tried to swerve on to the opposing lane to avoid the collision.

“He also remained at the scene and co-operated with police inquiries.

“Meanwhile the victim was rushed to hospital where he needed to be intubated and ventilated. He was in a coma for little over a week,” said Mr Woodward.

He had suffered a traumatic brain injury - a subarachnoid haemorrhage - and a fractured eye socket.

Mr Woodward described the incident as involving “an unsafe manoeuvre and grave injuries.”

READ > Four found guilty of Ashley Dale murder - St Helens man cleared

He said that Mr Allen suffered post-traumatic amnesia and restlessness while in hospital but had recovered though is attending as an out patient at Aintree Hospital.

Thompson, of Clipsley Lane, Haydock, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by driving without due care and attention.

The 45-year-old defendant, who was not legally represented, told the court that he resigned from Arriva and is now in alternative employment. “I have always been a law-abiding citizen and never been in trouble. I have never even had a parking ticket.

“I am very very remorseful for what happened. In hindsight when I saw the pedestrian I could have stopped at the junction and waited to see what happened. I anticipated he would have stopped at the kerb and looked.”

A police appeal sign near the scene in the aftermath of the crash (Image: St Helens Star)

The chairman of the Bench told Thompson, “This was a very bad piece of driving. We know you recognise that. It caused a serious life-threatening injury with possible long-term consequences.”

Thompson was sentenced to 12 weeks imprisonment suspended for 12 months and ordered to carry out 180 hours unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay costs totalling £274 and was banned from driving for 12 months.