Transport for London has been fined £2 million after a 74-year-old pensioner was struck and killed by a double-decker bus on an authorised pedestrian crossing at Walthamstow Bus Station.

The sentence was handed down at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 25 September, where TfL was also ordered to pay £5,081 in prosecution costs after admitting safety breaches investigated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Grace Mecaley died on 15 December 2023 after being struck at around 5pm while walking home from an afternoon shopping trip on Walthamstow High Street. She was crossing from Rose Bank Villas on a designated pedestrian route and had completed roughly two-thirds of the crossing when a number 212 double-decker bus hit her as it turned into the interchange. She died from her injuries at the scene.

An HSE investigation concluded that TfL had failed to ensure pedestrians and vehicles could circulate safely through the station, having neglected the hazards at the crossing for years. Inspectors found the 'red carpet' style crossing had been installed directly at the apex of a bend, meaning drivers turning into the concourse did not have a clear line of sight across its full length. The watchdog found the design created ambiguity over right of way and increased collision risks.

Safety warnings had previously gone unheeded. In April 2022, another pedestrian was struck by a bus under similar circumstances at the interchange, yet TfL failed to carry out a risk assessment of the crossing. Station CCTV examined after Mrs Mecaley's death also revealed five separate near misses at the same crossing in the 48 hours leading up to the fatal incident, alongside wider failures to monitor bus drivers operating at the site.

Speaking after the sentencing, HSE Inspector Laurence Goodacre said: "Our deepest sympathies remain with Grace’s family who are represented here today by her son. Grace was a vibrant member of her community and her loss will be deeply felt."

Inspector Goodacre added: "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. Grace died just days before Christmas and her family will continue to feel that loss particularly deeply at what should be a happy time of year. I hope today’s sentence provides them with some measure of comfort, knowing that those responsible for her death have been held to account."

The conclusion of the court proceedings brings formal accountability for the safety breaches identified at the interchange. I will continue to follow developments on bus station safety standards across London.