Coach driver admits causing three deaths

Oct 22 2008 by Charlie Rowney, Wishaw Press

A CARLUKE coach driver has admitted causing the deaths of three passengers following a crash near Heathrow Airport.

Philip Rooney, of Larksfield Drive, was at the wheel of the National Express London-to-Aberdeen service when it overturned on a motorway slip road last year.

Rooney (48) pleaded guilty to three counts of death by dangerous driving when he appeared at the Old Bailey in London.

He will be sentenced next month.

Two people died soon after the crash, which happened on the slip road to the M4/M25 in January last year.

A third passenger died six months later.

Christina Toner (76) from Dundee, and 30-year-old Yi Di Lin, a Chinese national, died in the crash while John Carruthers (78), of Chertsey, Surrey died in hospital on July 1.

Following the smash, National Express immediately suspended use of the 12 double-decker coaches operating on its network.

However, when no safety problems were found with the coaches, they were reinstated five months later.

Rooney was released on bail until November 24.

He will be sentenced at Oxford Crown Court.