TfL fined £2m after woman, 74, killed in bus crash

Transport for London (TfL) has been convicted and fined £2m after a 74-year-old woman was hit by a bus and killed while using a pedestrian crossing at Walthamstow bus station.

Grace Mecaley was walking home on 15 December 2023 when she was struck by a double-decker bus as she was about two-thirds of the way across the road. The retired nurse suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that TfL had failed to ensure pedestrians and vehicles could circulate safely at the bus station.

HSE Inspector Laurence Goodacre said Mecaley was a "vibrant member of her community" whose death was "deeply felt".

At Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday, TfL pleaded guilty to a charge of breaching Workplace Health, Safety, and Welfare Regulations 1992.

The organisation was also ordered to pay £5,081 in costs.

Goodacre said: "Grace was simply walking home after shopping when she was struck and killed while using an authorised pedestrian crossing.

"TfL had a responsibility to keep pedestrians safe, but its failings meant Grace never made it home.

"It is HSE's role to hold organisations to account when their failures to manage health and safety put members of the public at risk or result in tragic incidents like this one."

Lorna Murphy, TfL's director of buses, said her thoughts were with Mecaley's family and friends.

"Every death on the transport network is devastating, and we're determined to end the trauma caused by loss of life and injury," she said.

"As the operator of the bus station, we have accepted responsibility for the charges brought by HSE.

"We will be considering our next steps in relation to the level of the fine imposed by the court."

Murphy added that works to "permanently improve pedestrian safety" at Walthamstow bus station were completed in December 2024.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk