Victims of Sainsbury's bus crash named as Rowan Fitzgerald, 7, and pensioner Dora Hancox

Accident: the bus in Trinity Street
Twitter/@Haroon_Mota
Ramzy Alwakeel5 October 2015

A seven-year-old boy and a pensioner who died when their bus ploughed into a Coventry supermarket have been named by police.

Schoolboy Rowan Fitzgerald and Dora Hancox, in her 70s, died when the double-decker bus hit the side of Sainsbury’s on Saturday.

he 77-year-old driver was not arrested but is “helping investigators”.

Five other people needed hospital treatment, including a young girl who was said yesterday to be fighting for her life.

Insp Paul Bennett, from the force’s collision investigation unit, said: “The families of Rowan and Dora have suffered a devastating loss.

“Like people the length and breadth of Britain, we extend our deepest sympathies to them during this time.”

Tragedy: The scene in Coventry after last night's bus smash
West Midlands Ambulance Service

Stagecoach Midlands said: “Our hearts go out to the families of those who have lost their loved ones. Our thoughts also remain with all those affected by this tragic incident.

“No driver we employ is allowed behind the wheel of our buses without us being satisfied that they are fully qualified, safe and meet all necessary legal requirements.

“In this case, our driver has many years’ experience and has also passed a mandatory annual medical.

“Both our driver and our company are cooperating fully in helping police determine the full circumstances involved.

“Police have not yet completed their investigation and it is inappropriate to speculate in advance of their inquiries being concluded.”

Witness Ben Foster, who was inside the store, described hearing a series of loud bangs.

The 34-year-old charity worker said: “I was in the self-service check-outs and everyone’s attention immediately went towards the exit doors.

“People were running in various different directions out on the street and you could see the bus in the side of the supermarket.

“Broken glass was everywhere and there were a lot of young people at the scene just struggling to process what had happened.”

Additional reporting by Press Association

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