A grieving widow has spoken of her relief after a coach driver admitted causing death by careless driving following the death of husband.
But Glynis O’Mara said ‘nothing can bring Ian back’.
Coach driver Colin Ayrton, 65, was at the wheel of a Selwyns coach when it struck pedestrian Ian O’Mara , 55, who was walking his dog across Princess Parkway close to the junction with the M60 on October 30 last year.
Ayrton, a coach driver for 28 years, of Brown Lane, Heald Green, admitted causing death by careless driving when he appeared at Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
His coach swerved to avoid traffic queuing at the lights before hitting Mr O’Mara who was crossing with his Jack Russell Tia, the court heard.
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Mr O’Mara, described by his family as a ‘doting grandfather’ from Withington, was thrown into a lamp post and knocked unconscious, dying later at Wythenshawe Hospital of multiple injuries. His pet dog died at the scene.
A police crash investigation revealed the lights were on red for four seconds before the impact while Ayrton admitted he had ‘missed the brakes’ as he approached the lights, the court heard.
He will be sentenced next month when he could be jailed.
Mr O’Mara’s widow Glynis, from Chorlton, said: “We are relieved that the coach driver has taken responsibility for his actions by pleading guilty and bringing an end to the criminal proceedings.
“However, nothing can ever bring Ian back and losing him has had a massive effect on the whole family. We are all still grieving and it’s a real struggle to come to terms with the fact he is no longer here.
“I hope this trial sends out a message about the huge impact that careless driving can have on peoples’ lives. Ian was a well-liked and much-loved member of the Withington community and loved spending time with his boys (three sons Ross, Neil and Glenn and grandson Max). H
"e’d taken early retirement and loved walking Tia around the local area. Life will simply never be the same for all of us.”
She has instructed lawyers at Irwin Mitchell.
Video: Fatal crash on Princess Parkway
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She has instructed lawyers at Irwin Mitchell.
Her solicitor Richard Biggs: “Although the driver was not speeding, he went through a red light at 39mph which according to the CPS had been on for four seconds. This left Ian with no chance of surviving the incident and we hope that other drivers will now heed the warning this incident highlights and ensure that they take responsibility for their actions on the roads and drive safely.
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“All road accidents have consequences which, as this incident proves, can often be life-changing for those involved. It is important that everyone keeps road safety at the forefront of their minds while travelling.”
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Ayrton told police that the pedestrian ‘came from nowhere’ and that he applied the brakes at the last second, the court heard.
But the prosecution said there was no evidence the coach reduced speed until after the collission.
