An Aberdeen bus driver knocked down a teenager walking her dog after getting distracted when he went down the wrong road.
Mark Slesser had been working on an unfamiliar route when he took a wrong turn and ended up on Provost Fraser Drive.
While still moving, the 25-year-old attempted to use an internal computer device to alert his bosses at First and find a new route.
The distraction meant Slesser did not spot the 14-year-old using the zebra crossing up ahead until it was too late.
He slammed on the brakes, but was unable to avoid her.
The young girl was taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary with minor injuries following the incident on July 8 last year.
Yesterday Slesser, of Fraser Street, Aberdeen, admitted a reduced charge of careless driving when the case called at the city’s sheriff court.
Fiscal depute Lynzi Souter said: “The bus hit the complainer and swerved causing the complainer to fall to the ground and the bus to come to a halt.
“The ambulance and police were called and the girl was taken to Aberdeen Children’s Hospital to have her injuries assessed where she stayed during the night.”
The incident was captured on the internal security cameras installed on the bus, and Slesser was cautioned by police shortly afterwards.
Defence agent Stuart Beveridge said: “He was dismissed from his employment as a result of this incident.
“He was distracted, a passenger had come down to tell him he had taken a wrong turn which was something he already knew.
“The girl walked out without looking or checking, you can’t blame the girl but there has been a combination of factors.”
“In hindsight he should have stopped the bus by the side of the road.”
Sheriff Sukwinder Gill fined him £400 and added six penalty points to his driving licence.
First Bus declined to comment last night.
