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London Bus Driver Killed Teenage Girl After Falling Asleep Behind the Wheel Due to Cannabis Use
London, UK – June 2025
A London bus driver who admitted to smoking cannabis before his shift has been found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving after he fell asleep behind the wheel, resulting in the tragic death of a 14-year-old girl.
The incident occurred in March 2024 on a busy South London street, when the double-decker bus mounted the pavement and struck the teenager as she walked home from school. The victim, identified as Ellie Thompson, was pronounced dead at the scene despite desperate efforts by paramedics and witnesses to save her.
The driver, 41-year-old Marcus Gray, had reportedly smoked cannabis the night before and into the early hours of the morning. Prosecutors said that the drug impaired his alertness and ultimately caused him to fall asleep while operating the vehicle during the morning rush hour.
During the trial at the Old Bailey, CCTV footage from inside the bus revealed Gray’s head slumping moments before the vehicle veered off course. Data recovered from the bus confirmed there was no braking or evasive action taken in the seconds leading up to the fatal crash.
Toxicology reports found cannabis in Gray’s system, and the court heard that he had a long-standing habit of smoking the drug regularly. Despite mandatory drug testing protocols in place for Transport for London (TfL) drivers, it was revealed that Gray had not been tested for over a year.
In a tearful victim impact statement, Ellie’s mother, Sarah Thompson, said: “She had her whole life ahead of her. No parent should have to bury their child because a professional fell asleep at the wheel. It wasn’t an accident. It was reckless and avoidable.”
Gray pleaded guilty and expressed remorse during sentencing. “I never intended for this to happen. I am truly sorry,” he said through his lawyer. However, the judge condemned his actions as “grossly negligent,” handing down a sentence of eight years in prison and a lifetime driving ban.
Transport for London released a statement acknowledging the “deeply tragic loss of life” and pledged to conduct a full review of driver health checks and drug testing procedures.
The case has sparked renewed debate about the effectiveness of TfL’s safety protocols and whether drug testing among transport workers should be made more frequent and randomised.
A petition launched by Ellie’s family, calling for stricter drug screening of public transport drivers, has already gathered over 50,000 signatures.
As London mourns the senseless loss of a young life, many are now demanding accountability—and action—to ensure such a tragedy never happens again.
Attached is a News article regarding a London bus driver who killed a girl after falling asleep due to smoking cannabis
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/bus-driver-killed-girl-bexleyheath-jailed-b1232042.html
Article written and configured by Christopher Stanley
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