Bus driver convicted of dangerous driving in fatal Waterford e‑scooter crash

A jury at Waterford Circuit Criminal Court has found bus driver Adrian Doyle, 43, guilty of dangerous driving causing the deaths of two teenagers.

The collision occurred on Cork Road shortly after 2 am on 27 June 2024 when Doyle’s bus struck an e‑scooter carrying 15‑year‑old Gilbert Collins and 17‑year‑old Avuzwa Sampo. Both teenagers were killed.

Doyle, a resident of Ard Glas, Abbey Road, Ferrybank, was driving at 77 km/h in a 50 km/h zone on a straight stretch of road. The teenagers were wearing dark clothing and their scooter had no rear light. Doyle told gardaí he could not see them and there was no evidence he braked before impact.

The trial, which began last Tuesday, featured extensive video footage, including a clip of the windscreen shattering at the point of impact. After less than four hours of deliberation over two days, the nine‑man, three‑woman jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict. Judge Eugene O’Kelly remanded Doyle on continuing bail until 13 January for sentencing.

Prosecuting barrister Niall Storan stressed that the lack of scooter lighting did not excuse the driver’s responsibility, while defence barrister Kate Egan described the case as an “appalling tragedy” and argued the accident was unavoidable.

Source: Irish Examiner. Photo: Marc Schulte / Pexels.