Van driver dies after crash with bus in central Croydon
By Andrew Worden
newsdesk@croydonadvertiser.co.uk
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CRASH TRAGEDY: The accident happened at Wellesley Road's junction with Park Street
A van driver who was involved in a crash with a Croydon bus has died, five days after the accident.
Russell Bishop's VW Caddy van collided with a 407 bus in Wellesley Road, at the junction with Park Street, at 9.30am on Sunday February 28.
But police have revealed today (Wednesday) that the 38-year-old subsequently died last Friday (March 5).
They are now appealing for witnesses to the crash to come forward.
A police spokesman said: "The route 407 bus was travelling south in Wellesley Road, and was turning right into Park Street, when a VW Caddy van travelling north in Park Lane (which merges into Wellesley Road) was in collision with it.
"The van driver - Russell Bishop, of Mitcham, was taken by the ambulance service to Mayday Hospital, with head and chest injuries."
He is thought to have been discharged later that day but on March 3 he felt unwell and was re-admitted to Mayday Hospital, and died two days later.
A post-mortem yesterday at Croydon mortuary gave cause of death as multiple organ failure due to blunt force traumas to the chest.
Any witnesses - particularly any passengers on the bus - are asked to contact DS Paul Sanders on 020 8285 1574.
*For the latest on this story see this week's Croydon Advertiser in shops on Friday
11 Comments
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by Mr.Angry, The Estate
Monday, March 15 2010, 11:19AM
“It is obvious that there is something very wrong here and I will tell you that I wont be driving there until this is sorted.Goodness the council offices are a stones throw away!!”
by DDD, Croydon
Monday, March 15 2010, 3:05AM
“Negative, Kroydonistan. Calm down! Firstly, you didn't explain which direction or road your bus was travelling in. Were you heading East accross into Park Street or North towards wellesley road?
Secondly, I am simply explaining exactly how the phasing of that set of lights is set, and I know because I pass through them 10-20 times a night.
Once again, tonight, a car beside me went racing off through the red light because he was watching the wrong light.”
by Negative, Kroydonistan
Sunday, March 14 2010, 4:12PM
“DDD - I know what I saw. The light was changing from red to green as the bus was still going through the junction. I was not looking at the lights further up, nor the lights at the pedestrian crossing further up either. It was the lights that are supposedly protecting the junction my bus was travelling through. DDD you weren't there, so don't assume I didn't know what I was looking at.”
by DDD, Croydon
Sunday, March 14 2010, 2:47PM
“Negative, Kroydonistan's comment about the light going green is correct. BUT - if the driver pulls away when he sees that light go green, he has been watching the further light and not the light closest to him, because HIS light stays red for another 5 seconds.
That said, at this part of the junction at the moment, the light closest to him on the drivers side has twisted to to an angle facing South East, and the colour cannot be seen. The second light on his right is faulty and not showing red, so he is relying on seeing the lights on the left side. However if a bus is to his left, that light could obscured, thus now mistakenly watching the furthest light - which is not his light.
The bus lane light is green for 1-2 seconds before it starts to change to red, however, there is no room for error or for somebody racing the lights (and both are common at this junction). This is even more of a concern being that it is only buses and taxis that are allowed to use that eastbound section.”
by Negative, Kroydonistan
Saturday, March 13 2010, 9:46PM
“I went through these lights this morning on a bus while it was green. The bus was travelling neither fast nor slowly, and I noticed out the window a light for traffic travelling in a different direction was changing down to green before the bus had had time to traverse the junction. Quite simply, this sounds like a case of Corporate Manslaughter by Croydon Council.”