Woman who caused Christmas Eve bus crash says sorry to people who were injured

Yasmin Kauser (46) of Park Road, Peterborough, was driving a Kia on Church Walk when she crashed into the side of the bus, which was driving along Broadway at about noon on December 24.

The bus crashed into the Guide Dogs for the Blind offices on Broadway, causing extensive damage to the building.

A total of 13 people, including Kauser, were injured in the collision. Seven were taken to Peterborough City Hospital, while others were given first aid at the scene.

On Tuesday, Peterborough Magistrates Court heard Kauser had pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention.

Kauser did not attend court, but entered her guilty plea by post.

She also sent a letter to the court, apologising to the injured passengers on the bus for the accident.

Femi Fekile, prosecuting, told the court seven passengers on the bus were injured, with one suffering cracked ribs.

She said: “The defendant was driving vehicle one, along Church Walk. Vehicle two, a bus, was travelling along Broadway approaching the t-junction with Church Walk. Vehicle three (a Seat Leon) was driving south along Broadway. The vehicles on Broadway have priority.

“Vehicle one emerged without stopping and collided with the bus.

“The bus was pushed across the carriageway and collided into a shop front. Vehicle three suffered slight damage, while vehicles one and two suffered substantial damage.”

Witnesses described hearing a bang, and reported a number of people were screaming in the bus.

The crash also caused serious damage to the Guide Dogs building, and also delays for Christmas shoppers and others in the city centre.

Nearby buildings also had to be evacuated because there were fears of a gas leak.

The Guide Dogs office had to be closed while repairs were carried out to make it safe, and temporary offices were found to allow the charity to continue its work.

The court was told Kauser had sent a letter and doctor’s notes as part of her postal guilty plea.

The doctor’s note said Kauser had suffered a number of injuries, including broken bones in her arm, as a result of the collision.

In her letter to the court, she said: “From the outset I plead guilty to the charge.

“It was a terrible accident, and I apologise to all involved, particularly the injured.

“I have a great debt of gratitude to the emergency services, and will always have the knowledge of the suffering in the accident.”

Kauser said she had to wear a collar for four months after the crash, her own daughter had also been injured.

She added:” I have been living in the city for 20 years, and during that time have had no own-fault accidents.

“I took a short cut along a route I don’t normally use. I don’t recall seeing a stop sign, and that is all I remember.”

The letter said Kauser relied on the car to take her children to work and to school, as well as take her husband, who suffers from cancer, to hospital appointments.

The court was told Kauser had no previous matters recorded against her.

After spending time deliberating over the case, Magistrate Sarah Hughes said she was adjourning the case until September 6, so Kauser could attend the hearing.

She said: “We are adjourning for Mrs Kauser to attend. We believe the situation was aggravated by the number of injuries suffered by other people, the damage to vehicles and property, and the fact there would have been a lot of pedestrians about due to the Christmas period.

“We are adjourning the hearing to consider disqualification.”