Coach driver 'thought he'd run someone over'

A man accused of causing a pensioner's death by driving a coach dangerously outside a railway station told an eyewitness "I think I've just run someone over".

Michael Cockton admits his carelessness behind the wheel of a rail replacement bus outside Carlisle station, which led to the death of Roger Denwood on 30 November 2023.

The 75-year-old died in hospital on 15 December having suffered serious injuries when he was hit by the coach as it was "suddenly" driven forward for several seconds by Cockton.

Cockton, of St Helens Avenue, Flimby, denies a more serious allegation his driving was dangerous and fell far below that of a careful and competent driver.

Jurors heard a statement from Denwood's friend Mike Bradshaw, who had travelled to Edinburgh and back with him on the day of the crash.

Bradshaw had gone to get his parked car as Denwood waited outside the station smoking a cigarette.

When Bradshaw returned, he saw a coach had crashed into the station entrance.

"As I approached it was clear someone was being attended to," said Bradshaw. "It soon became clear it was Roger as his distinctive scarf was laid beside him.

"Very quickly it became apparent Roger was more injured than first thought," he said.

Denwood, of Cockermouth, was taken to Carlisle's Cumberland Infirmary, before being transferred to Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary.

He died from multiple organ failure and multiple crush injuries.

Eyewitness Matthew Measor said he saw the coach drive forward "suddenly" and he tried to grab Denwood but was not quick enough.

Measor said he suffered a back injury as he jumped backwards to avoid being hit.

Another witness, Gwendolyn McDonagh, watched as the coach "caught the back" of a parked Toyota Corolla as it reversed. The coach was then driven forward and into the station building.

"Everyone around seemed to freeze for a few seconds with the shock," she said, recalling that she saw Cockton in the aftermath.

"He held his head in his hands. He was shaking his head as if saying 'what have I done?'."

Experienced professional driver Jamie Wilson watched the coach "trying to manoeuvre itself with lots of very small turns.

He approached Cockton after the incident to ask if he was alright.

"He just looked at me, obviously in shock, and replied 'I think I've just run someone over'."

The court heard Cockton was following standard practice for rail replacement buses and doing as instructed when he travelled - against the flow of other traffic - through a "no entry" sign into the station forecourt area in an empty vehicle, preparing to collect passengers.

Data from his vehicle showed it was driven from 0-15 kilometres per hour (9.3mph) immediately before the collision, over a distance of 10 metres during around three seconds.

Cockton told police at the scene he had been struggling with cars but once he had straightened the bus it "shot forward".

After his arrest, newly qualified coach driver Cockton gave a prepared statement to police.

He recalled arriving early to collect passengers from the railway station which, he said, was "not great for buses to navigate".

He said he made contact with a little red car and stopped his vehicle. "From that point on I have no recollection of anything until the impact," he said.

The trial continues.

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