A bus driver has gone on trial accused of causing the death of a pensioner passenger in Fife.
Michael Gillespie is on trial for allegedly causing the death of 82-year-old Elizabeth Colville in Freuchie on April 8, 2019.
The 35-year-old was behind the wheel of a bus, which had 14 passengers on board at the time.
It is alleged he braked “violently” in the Fife village’s High Street to avoid a collision, causing Miss Colville to strike her head when she was thrown forward.
It is stated the pensioner was left so severely injured, she died three days later in hospital.
Prosecutors state Gillespie, of Kirkcaldy, drove at excessive speeds, onto the wrong side of the road and then failed to give way to an oncoming vehicle.
This driver is said to have been forced to take evasive action to avoid being hit.
It is claimed by prosecutors Gillespie overtook parked vehicles and then hit the brakes heavily to stop a collision.
Two other passengers were also hurt, according to the indictment.
Victim ‘flew through the air’
Robert Graham, 70, told the jury at the High Court in Glasgow he initially noticed the bus overtake a parked car.
Prosecutor Michael Macintosh asked: “What was the first you knew that the bus had come to a stop?”
He said: “I was just aware of the bus braking violently – it just happened in what felt like a split second.”
Mr Graham said he saw passengers, including Miss Colville, coming out of their seats.
He said she “flew through the air until she hit the barrier.”
Mr Graham claimed Miss Colville was initially conscious and passengers went to her aid.
He added that she said a “few words” but nothing in particular.
He said she fell unconscious before the emergency services arrived.
He said: “I was aware of her lips and mouth turning blue and people were checking her pulse.”
Attempts to save Miss Colville
The jury was shown “distressing” footage which appeared to show Miss Colville fall from her seat and hit the front of the passenger area, before being surrounded by people.
Carolanne Zock, 52, said that she was initially “scared” about the speed the bus was going.
The woman got upset in the dock when she said she saw Miss Colville “jolted” from her seat and her head hit the wheelchair section.
The janitor assistant added: “I went down and I did CPR.
“I got her in the recovery position and she said one word, then she turned blue.
“I did mouth-to-mouth and chest compressions – she wasn’t breathing at one point.”
Miss Zock said Miss Colville had no pulse but was breathing before emergency services attended.
The witness also claimed to have suffered a shoulder injury after hitting a metal handrail when the bus braked.
Louise Arrol, defending read out a part of Mr Graham’s police statement which stated that the driver was “shocked” and called an ambulance.
The trial continues before judge Lord Richardson.
