Fatal Bus Stop Crash: Driver Jailed

A driver who crashed into a bus shelter on the way to work – killing one man and seriously injuring another – has been jailed for nine months.

Vinayagan Ragupathy, 24, of Preston Hill, Harrow inflicted a fatal injury on 42 year-old Colindale catering assistant Vasile Prelipcean (pictured) who was waiting for a bus.

A second man, 53 year-old Edgware bus driver Ghanshyam Vaghji, suffered a leg injury so serious the limb was amputated and he continues to receive specialist treatment at home.

Ragupathy pleaded guilty at Harrow Crown Court to causing death by careless driving and was also disqualified from driving for three years and will have to take an extended driving test before his licence is restored.

Detective Sergeant Cheryl Frost of the Met’s Road Death Investigation Unit said: “Two families’ lives have been destroyed by Ragupathy’s actions which have resulted in both the death of a man who had recently become a father, and a man to lose his leg. 



“I would like to pay tribute to the families of Mr Prelipcean and Mr Vaghji, and I genuinely hope that others will learn from this case, and how careless driving can have such a devastating impact on so many people.”



The defendant crashed into the route 79 bus shelter in Honeypot Lane, Stanmore at 8.45am on June 8, last year while the two men were waiting for the service.

Ragupathy was driving his blue Honda Accord on his way to work when his vehicle left the road and tragically collided with the two victims.

Mr Prelipcean was pronounced dead at the scene and Mr Vaghji was rushed to St. Mary’s Hospital.