Bus crash fine for Ayrton Senna

Senna was sentenced at Paisley Sheriff Court

A bus driver, who changed his name to Ayrton Senna in tribute to his late motor racing hero, has admitted careless driving.

Paisley Sheriff Court was told that Mr Senna, 36, of Gallowhill in the town, collided with a stationary bus while trying to overtake it in his vehicle.

Sheriff David Pender accepted Senna's name did not reflect the speed he had been doing at the time of the accident.

Senna, who legally changed his name in 1997, was fined £125.

The court was told that two buses had been heading in the same direction in Main Road, Ferguslie, on 16 August last year.

World champion

When the bus in front pulled in to pick up a passenger, Senna misjudged his next move and collided with the rear of the stationery vehicle.

None of the passengers on either bus were injured.

The court was told that Senna changed his name from John Campbell in tribute to the former Formula One World champion racing driver, who died in a crash in 1994.

Defence agent Bob Mackinnon told Sheriff David Pender: "He changed his name as the original Ayrton Senna was his hero. He did that as a tribute to him."

The court was told that Senna had been employed as a driver with First Bus for five and a half years without any previous blemish on his licence.