Bus driver died after being hit by colleague

A bus driver suffered fatal injuries after being knocked down by a colleague who accidentally accelerated towards him, an inquest heard.

Father-of-three Satpal Singh was hit by a bus in Wolverhampton's Pipers Row station in May 2009 and died days later of swelling on the brain.

Black Country coroner Robin Balmain heard yesterday how National Express West Midlands driver Vera Walker screamed as she tried to avoid the 52-year-old but her bus was out of control.

Mr Singh's devastated family today paid tribute to the "best dad in the world" and revealed he had missed the birth of his new grandson, Rajveer, now aged six months.

A verdict of accidental death was recorded by the jury at Smethwick Council House.

The inquest heard yesterday how Mr Singh, of Lambert Road, Fallings Park, was standing in a designated drivers' walking area at the depot when he was hit on May 14. The bus also struck another vehicle and a shelter.

The jury agreed the accident had been because of "unintended acceleration".

The coroner said he would write to the Department of Transport to raise the issue of public transport vehicles having a light on in the cabin whenever the brake is pressed.

The bus had been left running by the previous driver before Miss Walker boarded it just after 10.30am on the day of the accident.

Miss Walker told the inquest: "I eased off the breaks to go slowly. When I was clear of the bus in front, my bus just shot off and it frightened me.

"I then had to go the left. I saw Mr Singh and screamed and tried to avoid him but the bus was out of control and it hit him."

The Wolves-mad father was married to Balwinder and the couple had daughter Nisha Rani and sons Hardeep, aged 30, and Sukhbir, 32.

Mrs Rani, aged 27, from Oldbury, said: "We really miss him – he was the best dad in the world."