An elderly woman who was killed when a bus smashed into a bus shelter was named today by police.

Iris Sawyer, 71, of Furzefield, West Green, Crawley, was among a group of people in the shelter when it collapsed on top of them. Five others were injured.

One of them, a 77-year-old man, remained in hospital today with critical head injuries.

All were waiting to get on a double-decker outside County Mall, Crawley, yesterday when a single-decker crashed into it, mounted the pavement, smashed through the shelter and hit the side of the Boots store.

The 77-year-old man was taken to East Surrey Hospital, Redhill, along with an 80-year-old woman. Both are from the Crawley area.

The woman victim was still in hospital today with a suspected fractured pelvis. Her injuries were said to be serious but not life-threatening.

Mrs Sawyer died at the scene. Police said she was dragged to her death by the single-decker Metrobus vehicle after it careered into the shelter off Friary Way and smashed into the side of the shopping centre.

Inspector Mark Dunn said she was under the vehicle when emergency services arrived.

Three other people were taken to Crawley Hospital with minor injuries.

The crash happened at 9.15am. The double-decker was rammed from behind by the empty single-deck bus, which then mounted the pavement, careered through the shelter and crashed into the side of the store.

A concrete lamppost was hit and crashed into the building, bringing down the Boots sign.

Gary Wood, operations director of Metrobus, said the driver of the single-decker was still in shock.

He said: "We are waiting on the results of the investigation by police and the Department of Transport but we will be conducting our own investigation.

"A lot hinges on what the police find. We will talk to the driver once he is out of shock."

Mr Wood said the driver, who is 54 and from Crawley, was sent home after being interviewed by police. He added: "The driver has a good record and has been employed since January 2 2001.

"The vehicle had been maintained in accordance with the company's established procedures and was not the subject of any known defects."

The empty bus was about to start the 526 service from Crawley to Horley.

Mr Wood said: "For reasons which are currently unclear, an eye witness has described the bus appearing to accelerate from a standing start. It then ran into the nearside rear of another of the company's vehicles parked ahead.

"The vehicle continued to run along the nearside of that parked bus into a bus shelter where there were a number of waiting passengers.

"It came to a standstill once it had collided with the adjacent property of Boots."

He said it was too early to say if disciplinary action would be taken but that it would be an option if the crash was found to be caused by driver error. The driver of the double-decker was unhurt.