Stephen Jones: Bus driver who killed couple in West Lothian crash jailed

Helen and Ian McKay were killed in the crash as they took their new car out for a drive.

A bus driver who killed a couple in a crash after they took their new car out for a drive was jailed today (Tuesday).

Stephen Jones repeatedly drove a service bus onto the opposing carriageway before driving into the path of an oncoming Vauxhall Corsa resulting in the deaths of Ian and Helen McKay.

Bus driver Stephen Jones.

Mr and Mrs McKay, aged 78 and 79, from Bathgate, in West Lothian, suffered multiple injuries in the resulting collision and were pronounced dead at the scene.

Four passengers who were travelling on the bus Jones was driving from Linlithgow to Livingston were also injured.

Footage from the E.M. Horsburgh bus was shown to a judge at the High Court in Edinburgh of the lead up to the crash, including efforts by Mr McKay to avoid the collision as he steered towards the edge of the B792 road, near Torphichen, in West Lothian.

Both vehicles ended up in a farmer's field following the fatal crash, the court heard.

The scene of the crash.

Jones (57) of Glenmore, Whitburn, in West Lothian, admitted causing the deaths of Mr and Mrs McKay and injury to passengers on January 8 last year by driving dangerously on the B792 Torphichen to West Calder road.

He repeatedly drove onto the wrong side of the road, drove at a speed that was excessive for the layout of the road, failed to negotiate a left hand bend and drove into the path of Mr and Mrs McKay's car.

The crash occurred on a slight left hand bend at the start of a double bend on the road.

‘Swinging round corners’

Advocate depute Steven Borthwick said: "Mr and Mrs McKay had bought a new car the day before the collision. On January 8 2019 the two now deceased had gone out for a drive in their new car, a grey Vauxhall Corsa."

The prosecutor said four passengers were on the single decker bus being driven by Jones at the time.

Mr Borthwick said one of the passengers, Agnes Marshall (78), was unhappy about the way it was being driven as it was "swinging round the corners" and in her view going too fast.

Another passenger Greg Moodie (56) said that as the bus pulled away from temporary traffic lights at Torphichen it was gathering speed and momentum quickly and was "going way too fast".

Mr Borthwick told the court: "He put his phone away and grabbed onto the seats in front of him with both hands."

"As the road reached the bend he noted that the bus driver made no effort to negotiate the left turn but continued straight on. The bus then continued to travel along the opposing carriageway."

"At this point Mr Moodie saw the car being driven by the now deceased Ian McKay and noted that the bus was travelling towards it head on."

"He states that the bus driver made no attempts to brake and indeed appeared to accelerate before the bus collided with the deceased's car," said the prosecutor.

Mr Borthwick told the court: "There is no suggestion that the accused Stephen Jones suffered from any medical condition that would have contributed to this road traffic collision."

The prosecutor said there was no evidence to indicate that the bus exceeded the applicable speed limit of 50 mph nor any suggestion that the driver was using a mobile phone.

Two passing nurses stopped after the crash to try and give assistance and found Mr and Mrs McKay trapped in their badly damaged car. They discovered that Mrs McKay had no pulse and her husband a weak one initially, but minutes later he also had no pulse.

One of the passengers on the bus, Agnes Marshall, needed five stitches put in a head wound and suffered bruising to her arms and legs and a hairline fracture of the jaw. Others sustained bruising and pain.

Previous convictions

Jones, who has previous convictions, including for speeding and careless driving, was later interviewed by police and said the bus he was driving was on time and running to schedule.

He said: "I got blinded temporarily by the sun upon going round the corner. It affected me for a few seconds."

He added: "By the time I regained my vision I realised there was a car directly in front of me and gave me no chance to apply an emergency brake."

"The collision happened and I remember being thrown about the cab and coming to a stop in a hedge. First thing I did was to switch the engine off and to check if anybody on the bus was injured," he said.

He told officers: "It was whilst I was being treated for injuries to myself in the ambulance I heard that the two people in the car didn't make it."

After he was charged he said: "All I can say is sorry."

E&M Horsburgh Ltd declined to answer how a driver with a history of speeding and carelessness was employed by them when approached by the Evening News yesterday.

The firm also declined to comment on the testimony of passengers who said Jones had been driving erratically moments before the crash.

The firm's depot operation manager, James McDowall, said: "E&M Horsburgh fully co-operated with the police and appropriate authorities at the time of the tragic accident.

"Our thoughts have always remained with the families of those involved and feel that it would be inappropriate to make any further comment."

‘Devastating impact’

Road Policing Sergeant Stephen Quinn said: "Police Scotland welcomes the conviction of Stephen Jones, who pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving at the High Court in Edinburgh today.

"The 57-year-old admitted causing the deaths of husband and wife Ian and Helen McKay (aged 78 and 79 respectively) on the B792 near to Ballencrief Toll on Tuesday, 8 January, 2019.

"This was a tragic incident which needlessly resulted in the death of a couple and has had a devastating impact on their family and friends. Our thoughts are very much with them.

"I would like to thank the members of the public who came forward during this extensive enquiry.

"This incident stands as a stark reminder of the consequences driving dangerously and at excessive speed can have. Drivers must obey speed limits and respect the safety of other road users. Drivers are responsible for their actions and the temptation to take risks can have long lasting consequences."

Jones was on bail ahead of today's court appearance but his solicitor advocate Ewen Roy said custody was "inevitable" and did not make an application to have his bail continued.

The judge, Lord Doherty, deferred sentence on Jones until next month for the preparation of a background report. He was remanded in custody.

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