A LOCAL bus driver has been commended by his employer and a member of the public for their ‘cool headedness’ during a serious road incident.

First Wessex driver Tim Wyatt, based at the Weymouth depot, was driving a Jurassic Coaster service along the B3157 coast road on Saturday, May 7 when he came across emergency services dealing with a serious motorbike crash near Burton Bradstock.

The rider of the green Kawasaki, a man aged in his 30s, was airlifted to Southampton General Hospital by the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance – Dorset Police report that “his injuries are life-changing, but no longer believed to be life-threatening.”

Due to the road being closed Mr Wyatt was unable to continue on his route towards Weymouth. It was then that he contacted First’s Weymouth control room and was instructed by the supervisor to reverse the bus 150 yards so he could turn the vehicle round and drive back towards Bridport, before taking another route to Weymouth.

Before reversing, Mr Wyatt was observed reviewing the area, which in some places was quite tight, and walked around the location to work out the manoeuvre to ensure it was safe.

Dorset Echo: Air ambulance at scene of coast road crash May 7 Picture: Quentin ParsonsAir ambulance at scene of coast road crash May 7 Picture: Quentin Parsons

A passenger on board Mr Wyatt’s bus wrote to the Echo to inform us of the great job he had done. Gillian Penwell wrote: “Tim was amazingly brave and confident and managed it with complete professionalism. To my mind he should be commended for doing his job magnificently in looking after the public in a very difficult situation.”

She told how the bus headed back to Bridport and then went to Weymouth via the A35 and turning off, attempting to pick up the service's usual route as much as possible so passengers could alight at their stops.

After learning how Mr Wyatt handled the situation, Richard Gagg, Operations Manager at First Wessex, said: “We were sad to hear of the collision and we wish the biker a full recovery. Tim did really well, ensuring the safety of our customers on his bus and taking safety extremely seriously. We are very proud of him.”

Mr Wyatt, who has worked for First bus for just under two years and lives in Dorchester, said: “The collision looked serious, and I do hope the biker is ok. Reversing wasn’t easy but with support from the team at the depot I’m pleased to say I managed it and then got everyone back safely.”