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Bus tragedy girl’s family plans to sue
‘Accident may have been avoidable’
THE family of a 15-year-old girl who died after being hit by a bus last year say they intend to sue the bus company.
Sharmin Ahmed – who dreamed of becoming a doctor – from Portpool Lane, Holborn suffered multiple injuries in the accident involving a number 19 bus last September.
The St Pancras coroner gave a verdict of accidental death at an inquest on Tuesday.
However, the family’s solicitor Mitesh Patel said the Ahmeds intend to institute proceedings against bus company Arriva in the civil court under the Fatal Accident Act.
“The family feel that the accident may have been avoidable,” said Mr Patel from solicitors Levenes in Wood Green. “They feel that the driver could have taken greater care and maybe noticed Sharmin before the accident.
“Although he may have been driving within the speed limit the family would have expected the driver to be cautious as he approached a zebra crossing.
“Two of the witnesses at the inquest stated they did not recall the bus reducing speed or decelerating on approaching the zebra crossing.”
The accident happened at Highbury Grove as Sharmin was returning from a lunch break to a home for the elderly, where she was doing work experience. She was a popular pupil at Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School, in Penton Street, Islington.
Sharmin lived with her family, and was the fourth of six children, five girls and a boy.
Her eldest sister, Rime Ahmed, 23, said she was a “wonderful, bubbly personality” and would be “terribly missed”.
Jo Dibb, headteacher at EGA said at the time: “The whole school community is devastated by this tragedy. Sharmin was a happy, bright student who made a huge contribution. Our thoughts are with the family.”
Jeff Quantrell, operations director at Arriva London, said: “This was a tragic incident and our thoughts are with the family and friends of the young girl who died”. |
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