News / Bishopsworth
Man jailed for causing bus to crash into house in south Bristol
A 22-year-old man has been sentenced to 18 months in prison after causing a collision which made a Bristol home ‘unliveable’.
Lawrence Salaou, of no fixed address, appeared at Bristol Crown Court on Thursday after pleading guilty to dangerous driving.
The court heard how, on Thursday, December 15 last year, Salaou was driving a VW Golf at speed through a 20mph zone, through a red light and struck a bus, which then veered off the road and collided with a house on Highridge Road, Bishopsworth.
Thankfully, no-one was seriously injured in the collision, however the house was badly damaged, with an estimated £300,000-worth of repairs needed.
Officers from the force’s Operation Remedy team carried out CCTV and forensic enquiries, using blood from the airbag to identify Salaou as the driver.
His passenger was also identified and arrested before being released without charge.
Salou and his passenger left the scene on foot, leaving the car.
Operation Remedy Inspector Steve Davey said: “The manner in which Salaou was driving was dangerous and it’s very fortunate that nobody was injured in the collision.
“However, the incident has left the family displaced and without a home for a number of months, as the condition of their home can only be described as unlivable.
“We hope that this sentence serves as a deterrent to anyone thinking of driving dangerously on our roads and provides justice to those who were on the bus and who own the badly damaged house.”
Main photo: Avon & Somerset Police
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