Cheshunt bus driver maintains driving licence after crashing into Essex roundabout injuring several school kids
A Cheshunt bus driver maintains his driving licence after crashing into a roundabout in Essex while driving a school bus filled with children, a court heard. Obi Okpechi was given a fine and penalised with nine points on his driving licence after the crash took place in Colchester late last year.
The incident occurred on October 10, 2022 when Essex Police was called just after 8.50am to reports of a crash on the A12 access road to Spring Lane and Cymbeline Way. Okpechi, 62, of Cheshunt[1], had been driving students from Colchester County High School for Girls, and was subsequently seriously injured and taken to hospital.
Several young people onboard were also injured following the incident, however none suffered life-threatening or changing injuries after being taken to hospital. Pictures surfaced that revealed a large emergency service presence at the scene, after a Mercedes Tourismo M2 bus had crashed head first into a tree on the Essex roundabout.
The bus driver was later interviewed by police and charged[2] with driving without due care or attention and Okpechi admitted to these charges when he appeared at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on July 27. The court heard how the Hertfordshire man failed to slow down for the roundabout and consequently mounted the central reservation, EssexLive[3] reports.
School bosses have said “all students have been accounted for and are safe” after a coach carrying children crashed on a roundabout (Image: SWNS)
Essex Police officers picked up all the school bags and belongings on the school bus before it was pulled from the tree and onto a lorry by emergency services. The magistrates bench decided not to ban Okpechi from driving, and instead added nine penalty points to his licence.
Okpechi was also fined £120 and forced to pay court costs of £110 and a £48 victim surcharge. On the day of the crash, a spokesman for Colchester County High School for Girls said: “Five students were taken to hospital accompanied by CCHSG staff and their parents were informed. All other students on the coach were collected in our school minibus and were accompanied to school by CCHSG staff.
“Paramedics are in attendance at CCHSG checking all students. All parents of those students involved have been informed by the school. We thank parents and staff for their calm and supportive response.”