Bus Driver Charged After Serious Accident in Skåne
Skåne, Sweden – A devastating bus accident that left 22 passengers injured has led to the bus driver being charged. The incident occurred on February 3 when a double-decker bus veered off the E22 highway near Hörby in Skåne and overturned.
During the early hours of that morning, with the road covered in snow and the wind blowing fiercely, the bus driver lost control of the vehicle, according to Skånska Dagbladet. The treacherous road conditions and reduced visibility resulted in the driver unintentionally driving off the road and causing the tragic accident.
Among the 22 injured passengers, four sustained serious injuries, with one of them being a man who faced life-threatening wounds. Fortunately, the man survived, but the incident left a lasting impact on everyone involved.
Following a thorough investigation that included reviewing the bus’s surveillance camera footage, authorities determined that the bus driver had nodded off multiple times while behind the wheel. Although the driver was traveling at a speed below the limit, reaching a maximum of 88 kilometers per hour, prosecutors argue that this speed was still excessive given the hazardous road conditions.
In response to the charges, the bus driver and his legal team deny the allegations that he fell asleep while driving. They maintain that he was merely stretching due to a neck problem. Additionally, the defense has suggested alternative explanations for the accident, such as a sudden gust of wind that may have caught the driver off guard while he was momentarily distracted.
However, the prosecutor remains unconvinced by these assertions. As a result, the 54-year-old bus driver now faces charges of negligence in traffic and causing bodily harm. The trial is expected to shed further light on the circumstances surrounding the accident and determine the driver’s legal responsibility.
This incident serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of driver vigilance and adapting to challenging weather conditions. As the trial unfolds, the victims and their families hope for justice, closure, and improved safety measures to prevent similar accidents in the future.