Bus driver is "first class employee" says boss

Mr Gould remains in a medically induced coma at the Royal Sussex County Hospital following the two bus accident on North Street, Brighton.

His wife Paula, 48, is at his bedside. 

It is believed Mr Gould suffered a medical episode at the wheel of the number 5 service he was driving at 9.20am.

Hours earlier he had complained of feeling unwell to a supervisor who had told him not to take to the road.

Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company said Mr Gould then reported to another supervisor an hour later he felt able to work.

An hour and a half into his shift the accident in North Street took place. It left another man - a passenger  - with life threatening injuries. He is now in a stable condition.

Nineteen others were left with injuries.

Yesterday The Argus revealed Mr Gould won an award in 2002 for his heroics in detaining a man who attempted to rob one of his passengers.

In a statement, Brighton and Hove Buses managing director Martin Harris said: "Our driver is a first class employee with many years of service and experience, a hard working and conscientious member of the team.

"He could not have foreseen the medical episode that was to occur later that morning any more than his supervisors or anyone else could have.

"Our understanding is that the condition that led to this episode was one which he had no previous history of.

"As I stated yesterday, he was feeling unwell at the start of his shift but with no indication that this could become serious, he was advised by a supervisor not to start.

"He was told to rest and then to see if he was or was not fit to start later on.

"He himself returned to declare himself fit to commence his service about one hour later than it was scheduled, suggesting where and when he could do so.

"He gave no appearance of being unwell at that time and so our supervisor could only rely on the driver's own assessment at that stage.

"There was certainly nothing to suggest that this could later become serious at that time.

"We have a duty of care to our driver and this was demonstrated in the actions of our supervisors who did not and would not encourage or coerce anyone to work if they did not feel fit enough to do so safely themselves."

Investigations into the exact cause of Monday's crash are still on-going. Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company is carrying out their own probe, seperate to inquiries by Sussex Police and Vehicle and Operator Services Agency.

Martin Harris Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company managing director Martin Harris

Mr Harris' statement added: "We have continued taking statements from witnesses in our own depot today, and as we did yesterday, shared them with Police and VOSA investigators.

"I am very grateful to all the staff who have come forward to assist with this investigation.

"The focus of our internal investigation is firmly on the driver's health condition now that the police and VOSA have completed their examination of the vehicles this morning.

"However, we will continue to co-operate fully with the police and VOSA investigation teams and will await their conclusions before we conclude our internal investigation and review of the accident."