Pensioner had double leg amputation after being dragged beneath bus when driver refused entry

A pensioner had a double leg amputation after she was dragged beneath a double-decker bus when the driving force closed the doorways on her and pulled away.

Joan Scott, then 83, was making an attempt to get on the bus in North Tyneside in September 2021 when the driving force, Scott Cliff, shut the doorways and drove off.

He didn’t know her strolling stick was trapped within the bus door, inflicting her to be dragged beneath the tyres and leading to catastrophic accidents to her legs.

One needed to be amputated on the scene and the opposite in hospital.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Cliff mistakenly believed the grandmother-of-three had beforehand tried to trip the bus with out a bus go, which is why he closed the doorways on her.

Northumbria Police stated Cliff, 49, from Lindisfarne Road in Hebburn, South Tyneside, was jailed for 27 months after he admitted inflicting severe harm by harmful driving.

The plea was on the idea he didn’t realise Ms Scott’s strolling stick was within the bus doorways when he pulled away, and he wouldn’t have performed so had he seen it.

‘Trapped in a damaged physique’

Ms Scott’s family members urged individuals to indicate extra compassion for the aged.

Her son Brian stated: “I feel that the driver of the bus has, on that day, taken my mother – taken the head of my family – in such a shocking way.

“She is trapped in a damaged physique brought on single-handedly by the actions of 1 individual.

“Mr Cliff held a position to help and protect the vulnerable by providing a place of safety on the bus.

“But he did not try this for my mom and that kills me.

“This was so avoidable had Mr Cliff shown more compassion and consideration to my mother.

“He has destroyed our household – and [I] hope this horrendous incident makes different drivers of all autos sit up and take observe.”

‘How may somebody try this?’

Her grandson Jack stated: “My grandma is no longer herself in any way, shape or form.”

Granddaughter Sarah added: “The bus driver didn’t even give her the chance to present the bus pass she had with her, all because he thought he recognised her as not previously paying a fare or having a bus pass she had with her.

“He determined to disclaim her entry on the bus and selected to shut the doorways in her face.

“How could someone do that? She is in her 80s, and she meant no harm.”

After the listening to, Pc Catherine Lloyd, who led the investigation, stated: “There is no doubt that Cliff’s actions have destroyed more than one life forever, and it should act as a harrowing reminder to everyone as to what can happen if you are behind the wheel of a vehicle and act carelessly, dangerously or without due consideration to others.”