A BUS driver from Renfrewshire has gone on trial accused of killing a pedestrian by running him over.
Christopher Irwin, 46, allegedly caused the death of Kevin McFadden on February 12, 2020.
Court papers state that Irwin, of Paisley, was driving without due care and attention on a double-decker bus.
It is claimed that he failed to make proper observations of the road, including pedestrians such as Mr McFadden.
The charge says Mr McFadden crossed at the junction of Battlefield Road and Brisbane Street, in the Langside area of Glasgow.
Irwin is stated to have turned right from Battlefield Road into Brisbane Street when it was unsafe to do so.
The allegations say he continued to fail to make proper observations of the road users and entered Brisbane Street when it was unsafe to do so.
Irwin allegedly did not give priority to pedestrians who were crossing and caused the bus to collide with Mr McFadden, leaving him so severely injured that he died.
Glasgow Sheriff Court heard from Natalie Scott, who stated in evidence that she was a passenger on the top deck of a number six bus being driven by Irwin at around 9.30am on the day in question.
She said: “As the driver slowed down to take the turn, as he was turning, I was aware there was an impact."
Miss Scott added that she got a “bit of a fright.”
She also told jurors she ran down the stairs of the bus and went to the exit.
“The driver was visibly distressed, in a state of shock," she added. “The driver said ‘where the f*** did he come from?’
“I told him I didn’t know and that he needs help and an ambulance.”
Prosecutor Harry Findlay put it to Miss Scott that she told police in a statement at the scene that Irwin had said: “He just came out of nowhere.”
Miss Scott replied that she knew there was a swear word in what she was told.
The trial also heard from Kelly McGowan, who told jurors that a man approached her car as she slowed down ahead of a red traffic light on Battlefield Road.
She stated the man did not cross the road and walked by her car on the driver’s side before going out of view.
Miss McGowan, 30, told Euan Dow, defending, that the man did not look before crossing the road.
The advocate asked: “What did you think he was doing?”
Miss McGowan replied: “I wasn’t sure but, when he started walking towards the car, I wasn’t sure what was going to happen.
“That’s why I was a bit frightened.”
Miss McGowan stated she went to the police after she heard a plea for witnesses on the radio.
The trial, before Sheriff Brian Cameron, will continue tomorrow.
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