A bus driver is on trial accused of causing the death of a woman passenger by dangerous driving.

Patricia Cope, 68, died after she was flung from her seat when a First Bradford bus jumped a red light on Canal Road and braked heavily to avoid a collision, a jury heard yesterday.

She suffered a fractured vertebrae and died in hospital two days later.

The driver, Stephen Martin, 42, of Morley Avenue, Fagley, Bradford, denies causing Miss Cope’s death by dangerous driving on Saturday, May 3, last year.

Miss Cope, of Carr House Gate, Wyke, Bradford, died in Bradford Royal Infirmary two days after she was injured on the 675 service from Bradford Interchange to Cottingley.

Prosecutor Heather Gilmore told the jury at Bradford Crown Court the bus was minutes into its journey when it stopped at 11.18am at temporary traffic lights at the junction of Holdsworth Street.

She alleged that after a minute and a half, the bus set off while the lights were still on red.

Mrs Gilmore said the single deck braked heavily to avoid colliding with a red car pulling out of Holdsworth Street.

Miss Cope, a front seat bus passenger, fell heavily to the floor. She suffered a fractured neck vertebrae and was immobilised.

She developed a blood clot and died in hospital two days later, the court heard.

Passengers said Martin was very concerned for Miss Cope. He was shaking and called an ambulance.

Mrs Gilmore said the woman driving the red car, which braked sharply to avoid a collision, was never traced.

Bus passenger Tracey Fawcett told the jury the bus stopped very abruptly. Her son grabbed her to prevent her being flung over the seat in front.

Mrs Fawcett said a woman sitting at the front of the bus, with a shopping trolley, fell off her seat and hit her face.

Motorist Gullfiaz Hussain said he was behind the red car at the temporary lights.

When they changed to green, he followed it and saw it brake heavily. The bus also braked quickly, veering to the left.

The woman driver got out of the red car. She was angry, waving her arms around and accusing the bus driver of jumping a red light.

The trial continues.