Double-decker bus driver who killed nine-year-old girl after ploughing into her while high on drugs is jailed
Martin Asolo-Agogua, 23, had been up all night at a social event when he ploughed into Ada Bicakci and her five-year-old brother.
The horror unfolded at around 9.05am on August 3, 2024, on Watling Street in Bexleyheath, southeast London, a court heard.
Asolo-Ogugua was today sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court for causing the death of Ada, a Turkish and British national, by dangerous driving and driving while unfit through drugs.
He was also disqualified from driving for seven years.
Asolo-Ogugua, of Banfield Road, Southwark, fell asleep at the wheel, having taken cannabis the previous night.
He mounted the opposite pavement at the exact moment Ada was riding her bike across it with her family.
The siblings, who were with a family member at the time, were immediately taken to hospital where Ada, who was a 'keen gymnast and swimmer' died two days later.
Detective Sergeant Sam Miles, who led the 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.
'It's a night that has cost him his freedom and snatched away the life of an innocent little girl.
'Ada had her whole life ahead of her.
'She lived in the area and attended a local primary school where she was a popular and happy pupil.
'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 closure for Ada's family who have remained a pillar of strength throughout these proceedings.'
Police were called to the scene at Watling Street near the junction with Halcot Avenue in Bexleyheath at 09:03hrs on Saturday, 3 August 2024 where a bus had collided with two children, causing what paramedics described as life-threatening injuries to a little girl.
Ada's family managed to jump to safety, but Ada was left with catastrophic injuries.
Ada was taken to hospital but, despite the best efforts of medical staff, she sadly died on the afternoon of Monday, 5 August.
Her family have continued to be supported by specialist officers.
Ada's father, Bora, said: 'The images of that horrific moment remain seared into my mind. 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.
'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.
'We will make this story one of love and thanks that we owe everybody. Your presence, and passing, will leave a mark in this country and we will fight to make drug driving a part of its history.'
Senior Crown Prosecutor, Miranda Jollie, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said:
'Asolo-Ogugua was reckless and utterly selfish to get behind the wheel of a bus after consuming drugs and put many lives at risk that day.
'His actions have robbed a young girl of her entire life. Our thoughts remain with Ada's family and friends as they try to come to terms with their unimaginable loss
'I hope his sentence today can help to bring some closure for Ada's family and highlight the devastating consequences of drug driving.'
Following the tragedy, a GoFundMe page was launched to provide support to the police and ambulance service who had helped the nine-year-old, with more than £14,000 accumulated in donations.
The family also donated her organs to other children, with her parents receiving a commendation from Anthony Clarkson, the Director of Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation.
A statement on behalf of the Bacakci family, shared on the fundraising page, read: 'We have been hit and shattered into pieces, one became six, living in new places.
'Thanks are not enough to show our gratitude. We'll honour Ada with acts of magnitude.
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