Professional negligence leads to crash deaths
A coach driver and his business partner have been jailed after their professional negligence caused one of their buses to crash, killing a married couple.
The 53 year old driver was sentenced to five years and three months in prison while his 61 year old business partner was ordered a three-year term.
The Leeds Crown Court heard that the coach was carrying 45 children and parents, when it underwent brake failure and hit a car.
A couple from Rawmarsh, South Yorkshire, who were in the car were killed instantly.
Both the accused admitted manslaughter due to gross professional negligence at a previous hearing and the driver also admitted causing death by dangerous driving.
The court heard that the driver was driving a marching band to a competition in Filey at the time of the incident.
The prosecution told the court that the driver had taken a wrong turn and ended up driving on a road that had warning signs and an escape lane, as it is infamous for its steep gradient.
Despite someone on the coach urging him to turn around, the driver continued on the road.
Once they began the steep descent the brakes on the 20-year-old coach failed, the court heard.
After the sentencing, the family of the deceased said they "We're happy with the sentence. Whatever sentence was given wasn't going to bring them back."