Cambridgeshire County Council has tonight (Tuesday) confirmed it has been served with prosecution summonses following the deaths of three people and the life-changing injuries sustained by a fourth person on the guided busway.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) announced in May last year its intention to start legal proceedings following the deaths, which occurred in three separate incidents.
Jennifer Taylor, 81, died when she was hit by a bus as she crossed the busway on foot at Fen Drayton on November 17, 2015.
Then almost three years later, cyclist Steve Moir, 50, died after colliding with a bus on the section of the busway between Cambridge railway station and Long Road on September 13, 2018.
Kathleen Pitts, 52, who was on foot, died after being hit by a bus on the section of the busway, also between Cambridge railway station and Long Road on October 26, 2021.
The fourth person, a teenage cyclist, was seriously injured when he collided with a bus in the guided section of the busway parallel to King’s Hedges Road less than a month later on November 9, 2021.
A county council statement released shortly after 7pm said: “We can confirm the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has served the county council with prosecution summonses and a court hearing date has been set.
“The HSE, following their investigation, informed us of their intention to start legal proceedings in May 2023.
“We continue to extend our sincerest condolences to the families and friends of Jennifer Taylor, Steven Moir and Kathleen Pitts.
“Safety on the busway is and remains a priority for the county council and the operators that use the busway. Since its opening in 2011, the Guided Busway has seen 33 million passenger journeys, the number of bus services has more than doubled, and during that time the council has worked with experts and made regular safety enhancements.
“We will now consider the evidence presented against us, the offences listed in the summonses and prepare for the first hearing date. For legal reasons it would not be appropriate to comment further in light of the decision taken by the HSE.”
The HSE has been contacted for comment.
