The driver of a bus which killed a Walsall pensioner tried to crash it into barriers to prevent the runaway single decker ploughing into other pedestrians, a court heard.

John Connolly told police the Arriva 360 service just “surged forward” and despite trying to swerve the bus, he was unable to avoid hitting Jean Crump and her friend Jennifer Fiddler in Walsall Bus Station. He told Wolverhampton Crown Court that the brakes were not working.

Connolly said he deliberately directed the vehicle the wrong way to try and hit barriers and the bus stand to avoid mowing down other people, the court was told.

The 63-year-old, of Darwin Close, Burntwood, was interviewed by officers in July 2007 days after the accident that killed Mrs Crump and caused serious injury to her friend.

Part of his statement was read out to the jury yesterday where he is standing trial accused of causing death by dangerous driving.

Connolly said he had started to indicate right and as he attempted to put his foot on the accelerator to pull away, the bus surged forward and despite putting his foot on the brake, it did not stop.

He said: “I was only yards from a pedestrian crossing. There were people there. I tried to avoid hitting them by turning the bus away from them but it was picking up speed and couldn’t avoid hitting them.

“I couldn’t turn right at the speed I was going so I turned left thinking of hitting the barrier. It seemed as if power was on its own and I wasn’t in control of it.

“It seemed the accelerator went down as I touched it to pull away.”

Mrs Crump, 65, of Lime Avenue, Bentley, was killed as a result of the collision.

The Arriva bus has been described as “taking off like an aeroplane” from the bus station.

The trial continues.