A London bus driver who killed a nine-year-old girl after mounting the pavement while under the influence of cannabis has been jailed for four years.
Martin Asolo-Ogugua, 23, had smoked cannabis the night before his shift and was still impaired when he fell asleep at the wheel, striking Ada Bicakci and her younger brother in a devastating crash in Bexleyheath. The tragic incident occurred on the morning of 3 August last year on Watling Street, just after 9am.
Ada, who had been riding her bike ahead of her family, was hit in front of her father and other relatives. Despite the efforts of emergency responders and medics, she succumbed to her injuries two days later in hospital. Her five-year-old brother survived but sustained injuries in the crash.
Appearing at Woolwich Crown Court, Asolo-Ogugua pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and driving while unfit through drugs. In addition to the four-year custodial sentence, he has been banned from driving for seven years.
Prosecutors detailed how the young driver had chosen to smoke cannabis prior to his shift and failed to get any rest before getting behind the wheel of the 301 bus. Investigators concluded he had fallen asleep at the wheel shortly before the fatal collision.
In a deeply emotional statement issued through the Metropolitan Police, Ada’s father, Bora Bicakci, described the unimaginable pain of witnessing his daughter’s death.
“The images of that horrific moment remain seared into my mind,” he said. “That scene replays endlessly, a constant reminder of the day my world fractured beyond repair. This tragedy happened on my watch – a father’s ultimate failure. My world has been turned upside down, and with it, the foundations of my family have crumbled.”
He continued: “My darling Ada. Our thanks are not enough to show our gratitude for you. We will honour your name with acts of magnitude. You will never be forgotten. Your presence, and your passing, will leave a mark in this country. We will fight to make drug driving a part of its history.”
The court heard that Asolo-Ogugua, employed as a contracted bus driver in London, had shown “clear signs of fatigue and impairment” during the route. Despite those signs, he made no attempt to alert his operator or remove himself from duty.
The sentencing judge condemned Asolo-Ogugua’s reckless decision to drive while still under the influence of drugs, describing it as a “gross betrayal of the trust placed in you to operate a public vehicle safely.”
Detective Sergeant Sam Miles, who led the Metropolitan Police investigation, said: “Asolo-Ogugua will have to spend the rest of his life regretting the night he chose to stay awake before getting behind the wheel of a bus with cannabis in his system.
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“It’s a night that has cost him his freedom and, more importantly, snatched away the life of an innocent little girl. Ada had her whole life ahead of her. She lived locally, was a happy and popular pupil at her primary school, and was cherished by her family and community.”
He added: “In a remarkable show of courage and humility, Ada’s family chose to take her life forward to help others by donating her organs. I can only hope today’s sentence brings some measure of closure for Ada’s loved ones, who have displayed nothing but dignity and strength throughout this ordeal.”
Outside the courtroom, community members and school representatives paid tribute to Ada, remembering her as a bright, caring child whose life was filled with promise.
Her tragic death has reignited calls for stricter penalties on drug driving and more rigorous screening for public transport drivers. Campaigners say her story must serve as a wake-up call to prevent such heartbreak from striking other families.
