A team of forensic experts inspected the school bus that had crashed in Chitpore on Monday and found that the brakes were working, contrary to the driver’s claims, police said.
“The preliminary forensic examination suggests the brakes were working. That means the driver was lying,” a traffic police officer said.
The bus had smashed into a traffic signal post, hit a heap of sand and toppled on its side, leaving eight students and six parents injured.
Driver Sonu Haldar, 24, who had earlier worked as a helper, apparently told cops that the brakes had failed and he lost control and deliberately crashed into the sand to reduce the extent of damage.
Once the detailed forensic report is available, the exact speed at which the bus was moving will be clear, an officer said.
The driver, who was injured in the accident as the steering wheel hit his stomach, is admitted to RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. “He will be arrested once he is discharged from the hospital,” the officer said.
Students of Holy Child Institute who were in the bus have said the vehicle had hit a four-wheeler on BT Road minutes before speeding down the Lockgate flyover and crashing into the signal post.
A student said the bus had been involved in accidents. “Every time the driver got away saying he was ferrying children who needed to reach school on time.”
The crash had left two women with fractures and a man with head injuries.
Haldar has been booked for rash and negligent driving and causing grievous hurt by endangering other’s life.
The charges carry a maximum punishment of two years in jail.
Parents of some of the injured students said they would file separate complaints against the driver and the pool car operator.