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Death bus driver bailed by police Family 'devastated' by bus death
(about 6 hours later)
A bus driver arrested when a man died under the wheels of his bendy bus has been released on bail. The aunt of a man killed when he was dragged under the wheels of a bendy bus for more than a mile has spoken about the family's devastation.
The driver, in his late 50s, was held by police on Monday after the male passenger died trying to leave the number 25 bus in east London. Christine Harwood, 54, said the parents of 21-year-old Lee Beckwith were "beside themselves" and his mother had not spoken to anyone since.
Lee Beckwith, 21, of Brentwood, Essex, was trapped beneath the bus after getting off in Ilford High Road at about 0500 BST on Tuesday. Mr Beckwith, of Brentwood, Essex, was trapped beneath the bus in Ilford, east London, in the early hours of Tuesday.
The driver has been bailed to return to police on 16 January. The driver of the bus, aged in his 50s, was arrested and bailed until January.
Safety review Mobile phone
The bus, operated by East London Buses, is under examination. An examination of the number 25 bus, operated by East London Buses, was due to be carried out and CCTV from the bus will be studied.
Mr Beckwith is believed to have got off the bus with a friend. It is understood Mr Beckwith and a friend had travelled from Whitechapel to Ilford after working late.
"It appears at this early stage that the male then fell and became trapped beneath the wheels of the bus," said a police spokesman. Soon after getting off the bus in Ilford High Road, at about 0500 BST, they thought they had left a mobile phone on board.
"The body was dislodged after approximately a mile in Romford Road, just past the junction with Rabbits Road." We just cannot understand how this has happened. How can he have been dragged for a mile? That is what we just cannot believe Christine Harwood
Fatalities are extremely rare - one fatality for every 100 million miles operated Spokesperson, Transport for London The victim's friend tried to stop an oncoming number 25 bus as they were near the route terminus and thought it was the same vehicle they had travelled on, police said.
Mr Beckwith's death has prompted calls for a review into the safety of bendy buses. "At some point the victim then fell beneath the wheels, our enquiries continue into exactly how this happened," a police statement said.
Liberal Democrat MP, Susan Cramer, said: "The great fear with bendy buses is that are they safe in the way we know other buses are in London. Mr Beckwith's body was spotted by a passer-by more than a mile away in Romford Road.
"It seems to me we have to say it's about time for a review of bendy buses". His aunt Ms Harwood said: "The family are devastated by it, his mum, she is talking to nobody.
But a Transport for London spokesperson said the London bus network has an excellent safety record. "Lee was her soulmate, he was a good lad. Everyone who knew him liked him and he was a hard worker.
"Fatalities are extremely rare - one fatality for every 100 million miles operated," she said. "We just cannot understand how this has happened. How can he have been dragged for a mile? That is what we just cannot believe."
Mr Beckwith was a tiler and lived with his partner, who is expecting their first child.