A COACH driver who crashed into the back of a car on his way to collect children from a primary school has been found guilty of careless driving.

Peter Wright, a director of Bradley Fold Travel Ltd, denied driving without due care and attention following an accident at Lee Gate, Harwood in June last year.

Harold Smith, prosecuting, told the court how Wright, aged 58, of Ringley Road West, Radcliffe, had crashed into the back of a Citroen Picasso car, driven by Jacqueline Henshaw as she waited to turn right into an alley next to a newsagents shop in Lee Gate.

Ms Henshaw, who had her four-year-old daughter in the back of the car after collecting her from a nursery, said the impact of the crash, which happened in heavy rain, made her head hit the steering wheel and she needed hospital treatment for neck injuries.

She told Bolton magistrates that after the crash Mr Wright had been concerned about her and her daughter.

“He said he had braked in plenty of time but the brakes had locked and he hit me,” she said.

Wright, who described himself as a director and transport manager, said he had been driving professionally since 1972 and regularly maintained his coaches himself.

He said he had been driving the 53-seater coach to collect children from St Brendan’s Primary School when the accident happened.

He said the coach and tyres were in good condition and he had pulled away from the traffic lights at Longsight on to Lee Gate behind the car and a gap of 50 yards opened up between them.

He saw Ms Henshaw indicate to turn right and braked, but instead of stopping he skidded into the back of her car.

He claimed a greasy road surface had caused the coach to skid and denied he had made a driving error.

But magistrates decided he had not left sufficient space to allow him to stop in time and found him guilty of driving without due care and attention.

He was fined £75, ordered to pay £250 prosecution costs and had his licence endorsed with three points.