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M49 coach driver 'checked emergency exit before boy fell' | M49 coach driver 'checked emergency exit before boy fell' |
(2 days later) | |
A coach driver checked his vehicle's emergency exit hours before a boy fell out of it on a motorway, a court heard. | A coach driver checked his vehicle's emergency exit hours before a boy fell out of it on a motorway, a court heard. |
The boy suffered a broken wrist when he fell onto the M49, near Bristol. | |
Driver Tudor West and coach owner Keith Jones, both of Bridgend, deny charges relating to dangerous driving after the teenager - part of a rugby team - was injured, on 16 May last year. | Driver Tudor West and coach owner Keith Jones, both of Bridgend, deny charges relating to dangerous driving after the teenager - part of a rugby team - was injured, on 16 May last year. |
Mr West told Bristol Crown Court he had asked the team to wear seatbelts but they "had not put them on". | Mr West told Bristol Crown Court he had asked the team to wear seatbelts but they "had not put them on". |
The court was told the bus had passed its MOT a month before the incident, but as part of the accident investigation it was inspected and "nine defects were identified". | The court was told the bus had passed its MOT a month before the incident, but as part of the accident investigation it was inspected and "nine defects were identified". |
'Put weight against door' | 'Put weight against door' |
During the hearing, the jury was played a video showing an inspector pushing the coach door "lightly with his hand" before it opened. | During the hearing, the jury was played a video showing an inspector pushing the coach door "lightly with his hand" before it opened. |
But in the court, Mr West acted out his "normal morning routine" on the stand. | But in the court, Mr West acted out his "normal morning routine" on the stand. |
He showed the jury how, on the day of the accident, he had opened and closed the emergency rear exit and had then put all of his weight against it. | He showed the jury how, on the day of the accident, he had opened and closed the emergency rear exit and had then put all of his weight against it. |
When asked how he thought the door had opened, allowing the the 13-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, to fall onto the motorway, Mr West said: "I don't know, all I know is that it wouldn't have happened on that morning." | When asked how he thought the door had opened, allowing the the 13-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, to fall onto the motorway, Mr West said: "I don't know, all I know is that it wouldn't have happened on that morning." |
Tudor West denies dangerous driving and driving a vehicle in a dangerous condition. | Tudor West denies dangerous driving and driving a vehicle in a dangerous condition. |
Coach company owner Keith Jones denies permitting the driving of a vehicle in a dangerous condition, and aiding and abetting dangerous driving. | Coach company owner Keith Jones denies permitting the driving of a vehicle in a dangerous condition, and aiding and abetting dangerous driving. |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |
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