Bus driver jailed for killing little woman, 9, day after taking medicine | UK | News | EUROtoday

A bus driver who killed a nine-year-old woman after falling asleep on the wheel whereas underneath the affect of medicine has been jailed for 4 years. Martin Asolo-Ogugua, 23, of Southwark, London, was sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court on Monday, June 9 for inflicting the loss of life of Ada Bicakci by harmful driving and driving whereas unfit by way of medicine.

The court docket heard that Asolo-Ogugua had taken hashish the night time earlier than the crash and was sleep-deprived when he began his shift on the morning of Saturday, August 3, 2024. He later fell asleep whereas driving a bus alongside Watling Street in Bexleyheath, mounting the other pavement and hitting Ada as she cycled along with her household. Despite determined efforts by paramedics and hospital workers, Ada died two days later.

Her household managed to leap to security and suffered solely minor accidents, however Ada was left with catastrophic trauma.

Detective Sergeant Sam Miles, who led the investigation for the Met’s Roads and Transport workforce, mentioned: “Asolo-Ogugua will have to spend the rest of his life regretting the night he chose to stay awake before getting behind the wheel of a bus with cannabis in his system.

“It’s a night that has cost him his freedom and snatched away the life of an innocent little girl.

“In a remarkable show of courage and humility, Ada’s family chose to take her life forward to help others by donating her organs.

“I can only hope today’s sentence brings some closure for Ada’s family who have remained a pillar of strength throughout these proceedings.”

Officers had been known as to the scene at round 9.03am. Witnesses described seeing the bus veer off beam simply moments earlier than the collision. A roadside drug take a look at confirmed Asolo-Ogugua had hashish in his system, and he was arrested on the scene.

Detectives traced CCTV footage exhibiting the bus leaving its depot round 8.45am and following it alongside London Road, confirming the precise second the motive force misplaced consciousness. The footage confirmed the bus drifting throughout the carriageway and mounting the pavement with none braking.

Asolo-Ogugua was charged on February 13 and later pleaded responsible to inflicting loss of life by harmful driving whereas underneath the affect of medicine, and driving whereas over the drug restrict. He has additionally been banned from driving for seven years.

Ada’s father, Bora, described the lasting affect of his daughter’s loss of life, saying: “The photographs of that horrific second stay seared into my thoughts. That scene replays endlessly, a relentless reminder of the day my world fractured past restore.”

He added: “We will honour your name with acts of magnitude. You will never be forgotten.”

Senior Crown Prosecutor Miranda Jollie mentioned: “His actions have robbed a young girl of her entire life… and highlight the devastating consequences of drug driving.”