Waterford e-scooter tragedy: Footage of bus colliding with two boys shown to jury
Gilbert Collins and Avuzwa Idris, also known as Sampo.
It is day two of the criminal trial in Waterford concerning the deaths of two teenagers following a collision with a bus on June 27, 2024.
The collision occurred on the Cork Road in Waterford city at approximately 2am.
Gilbert Collins, 15, and Avuzwa Idris (who also goes by Sampo), age 17, were both riding on a single e-scooter that morning, when a bus driven by Adrian Doyle of Ard Glas, Ferrybank, collided with them from behind, killing them both.
Doyle has been charged with dangerous driving causing death.
This afternoon, a large amount of CCTV footage was played in court.
Prior to the footage being played, Judge Eugene O’Kelly warned the jury and family members of the deceased in the courtroom that the content may be graphic in nature.
The footage showed the two boys arriving on an e-scooter to Waterford Retail Park at close to 1am.
They disembark the e-scooter and entered Snap Fitness, a gym located within the retail park.
Approximately an hour later, footage shows them leaving the gym and getting back onto the e-scooter.
Avuzwa Idris drove the e-scooter out of the retail park and onto the Cork Road, with Gilbert Collins to his rear.
Large amounts of footage was extracted from car garages and businesses along the Cork Road, showing the boys travel along the road in the direction of Waterford city centre.
Footage also showed the white JJ Kavanagh & Sons coach driven by Adrian Doyle travelling in the same direction.
The moment of collision was captured clearly via onboard dashcam footage from the bus.
This footage showed the two boys veer to the centre of the road, before an immediate shattering of the front windscreen upon impact.
The moment of the collision prompted a strong emotional reaction from family members of the deceased in the courtroom, with audible expressions of distress.
A number of family members exited the court after seeing the footage.
Footage from cameras positioned to the sides and rear of the bus also showed the moment of collision. These angles show debris fly across the road.
After the collision, the bus drove a short distance before stopping, and Adrian Doyle disembarked at approximately 2:03am.
As well as the CCTV footage, the jury were provided with images and maps this afternoon.
Images showed the aftermath of the collision, with debris and items of clothing strewn across the road.
Evidence was provided to the jury by Garda Billy Mernagh on the condition of the bus and the e-scooter.
There was damage done to the windscreen and front bumper of the bus following the collision, however, its tyres and brakes were in good condition.
The e-scooter was deemed not road legal, had no visible lights and was above the permitted electrical power threshold, Garda Mernagh said.
Meanwhile, Garda JP Scallan provided data from the bus’s onboard tachograph, a device, which records speeds and actions of the driver.
He said the device was in perfect condition.
Adrian Doyle was driving 77km/h at the time of the collision, in a 50km/h zone.
Alan Kirwan, Executive Engineer at Waterford City and County Council, provided an overview of speed limits to the jury. He confirmed that the stretch of road was within a 50km/h zone, and that there is clear road signage in place.
The trial continues.
