Bridging his gaps.Byline: By Sarah Knapton A bus driver who ripped the top off his vehicle after misjudging a low bridge has been ordered to take a motorist imp-rovement course or face prosecution. Twenty people were aboard the Metro replacement bus service taking passengers between North Shields Coordinates: North Shields (or locally just Shields) is a town on the north bank of the River Tyne, in the metropolitan borough of North Tyneside, in North East England. It is located eight miles (13 km) east of Newcastle upon Tyne. and Tynemouth, on September 5, when the accident happened. The driver, took a wrong turn and crashed into the bridge at Tanner's Bank, near North Shields Fish Quay North Shields Fish Quay a fishing port located close to the mouth of the River Tyne, in North Shields, Tyne and Wear, North East England, eight miles east of the city of Newcastle upon Tyne. . The vehicle became wedged with the roof partially ripped off. Now Northumbria Police Northumbria Police is the Home Office police force responsible for policing the areas of Northumberland and Tyne and Wear in England. The service is the sixth largest police constabulary in England or Wales. As of April 2005, the current Chief Constable is Mike Craik. have written to the driver offering him the chance to pay pounds 155 to attend a two-day driver improvement course or face a possible criminal proceedings of driving without due care. It is understood the driver has accepted the offer. The bus is owned by Redby Bus and Coach, of Hendon Road, Sunderland, and had been hired by Metro operator Nexus for the day because a line was closed for repairs. A spokesman for Nexus, which has completed an investigation into the accident, said: "We have used Redby coaches on a number of occasions. They are a reputable firm and we have always found them competent. "However, in this case the company has admitted the driver was at fault. We gave the company a route map and relevant information but it seems the driver accidentally took a wrong turn. "We have contacted the family of a young girl who was slightly injured in·jure tr.v. in·jured, in·jur·ing, in·jures 1. To cause physical harm to; hurt. 2. To cause damage to; impair. 3. in the accident explaining the situation and they seem to be happy with the outcome." Passenger Darren Christopher travelling with his pregnant partner Connie Pendleton and their three children, when the accident happened, said: "When you look at the state of the bus, what might have happened doesn't bear thinking about. "We were at the back but the children were sitting nearer the front. They had wanted to sit right at the front but we made them sit nearer to us. It is lucky we did." A sign warning drivers of the low height of the bridge had been partially obscured by foliage. |
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