Bus Driver 'Not at Fault' for Running Over Mother Duck and Duckling
Wednesday, 18th August, 2010 05:09:36 PM
Source: http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/news/Bus-driver-fault-running-mother-duck-duc...
A BUS company boss has defended the driver of a double-decker bus who ran over a mother duck and one of her nine babies on a Newquay road.
Managing director of Western Greyhound Mark Howarth was saddened to learn about the deaths, but said the driver acted within the law.
He spoke out after an animal-lover criticised the lack of punishment given to a bus driver involved in the incident last Tuesday morning.
Anne-Marie Bradshaw told of her horror at witnessing an explosion of feathers as the mother duck disappeared beneath the wheels of the double-decker.
She said Western Greyhound's decision not to punish the driver was ridiculous.
"The driver had plenty of time to move out the way, but chose to drive over some of them instead.
"I was shocked. My family and friends are shocked. Yet Western Greyhound decides not to punish. It's ridiculous."
The mother of two picked up the remaining ducklings and is caring for them at her home.
The 28-year-old, from Quintrell Downs was driving behind the bus when the incident happened.
"It was only when the bus drove over the object and feathers exploded into the air that I knew it was a bird of some sort.
"As I drove past I saw eight baby ducklings, along with the mother, who had been run over as well as another duckling, and stopped immediately. I reversed a few metres and picked all eight of them up, with the help of two other people, and put them in my car's passenger footwell and rushed them to the warmth of my home.
Mrs Bradshaw's father-in-law, Newquay town crier David Bradshaw, had the advice and food to help keep the babies alive.
"He gave us a bag of food called chick crumb which is small enough for them to eat," said Mrs Bradshaw, who is married to David's son Tommy.
"Apparently after two weeks you can let them go back into the wild, which is what I plan to do.
Shock
"But I, like many of my friends, are just still in shock as to the driver's attitude to these creatures."
Mr Howarth said they had investigated the incident and concluded that the driver could not have avoided striking the ducks.
He said: "The law states that bus drivers must ensure the comfort and safety of passengers is not compromised.
"We have closed circuit television at the front and rear of our buses and could see it was raining, which made the road slippery, and the ducks just ran out in front of the bus.
"We do not feel the driver has done anything wrong as passenger safety is our main concern."
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