A BUS driver has described the vehicle he was driving when he knocked down and killed a man trying to catch the last service home as “horrendous”.

David Luck told a jury yesterday that many employees of transport company Arriva did not like to be given either of the two DAF SB3000s on their shifts.

Mr Luck, 59, from Darlington, is on trial at Teesside Crown Court where he denies a charge of causing death by dangerous driving in October last year.

Paul Siddoway, 40, was crushed to death under the wheels of the X66 coach at Middlesbrough bus station after running alongside it and trying to get on.

It is alleged Mr Luck picked up three other passengers then ignored Mr Siddoway, closed the doors and drove off without him because he was impatient.

He told the jury yesterday he was not in a hurry to finish his last trip to Darlington and said he did not see Mr Siddoway trying to get on.

During cross-examination from Jolyon Perks, prosecuting, Mr Luck said: “In my view, everybody that was getting on the bus was on the bus.”

He told the jury there had been incidents involving the DAFs in Darlington when they had “a surge of power” and took off without the driver doing anything.

“You knew this was a vehicle you had to take extra care with,”

he said. “There have been a few problems with them – they are horrendous to drive.

“People don’t like driving it.

They would prefer to drive another vehicle... the company said both the buses had been checked and there was no fault.”

Mr Luck, of Bowes Court, Darlington, said he was aware of Mr Siddoway at the platform with other passengers, but not at the door of his vehicle.

Rod Hunt, defending, told the court there were on average more than 30 accidents a year – including trips and falls – at the bus station and recent safety work has taken place.

The jury of eight women and four men is expected to retire to consider its verdict today after Judge John Walford finishes his summing-up.

The case continues.