A bin lorry driver has been jailed for three years and four months for causing the death of a schoolgirl who was killed when he ploughed into a minibus.
Nicholas Buck, 52, from Birmingham, originally pleaded not guilty to a single charge of causing death by dangerous driving.
He then pleaded guilty on October 7 after the collision on July 7 last year which resulted in the death of 14-year-old Holly Brown.
The teenager was among a party of students from a school in Staffordshire, travelling in a minibus.
The schoolchildren were on their way to Birmingham’s Botanical Gardens when the crash happened on the A38 in Castle Vale, Birmingham.
Buck, of Kingshurst, Birmingham, was charged with causing death by dangerous driving.
On the first day of his trial at Birmingham Crown Court, Buck changed his plea to guilty.
The court heard Buck had a previous conviction for driving without due care and attention on July 29, 2014.
The judge accepted Buck’s remorse and the profound effect on his family. He jailed him for three years and four months and disqualified him from driving for five years and eight months.
Judge Mukherjee said: "You were not a novice driver of such a vehicle. Driving such a vehicle as this bring with it responsibility. It is a powerful machine.
"When you turned right you failed to give way at the junction and to see the coach. It did not have sufficient acceleration. There was no reasonable excuse for you failing to see that coach.
"Mr Bagnall did what he could to avoid you. Your lorry struck the rear area where Holly was sitting with catastrophic results. Mercifully there were no other serous physical injuries.
"You did not tell the police the whole truth in the interview. You lay blame at Mr Bagnall’s door suggesting he had been speeding."
Speaking at the time of her death, Holly’s parents, Sari, 51, and Martin, 49, from Branston, Staffs, paid tribute to their talented daughter.
They said in a statement: "Holly, our beautiful daughter and twin sister to Emma, we are so proud of what you achieved.
"You grasped every opportunity that life presented to you, displaying so much passion, enthusiasm and determination in pursuit of your dreams.
"All this without forgetting to care about people, being there for others and having time for those that needed it.
"We will miss you so much but you will always be in our thoughts, hearts and prayers."
A bin lorry driver has pleaded guilty to causing the death of a 14-year-old girl who was killed when he ploughed into a school minibus.
Nicholas Buck, 52, was behind the wheel of a 12-ton refuse vehicle when it ran into the Mercedes bus carrying talented ballerina Holly Brown.
She was killed instantly in the collision which happened at 8.30am on July 7 last year.
Holly was among a party of 21 students from John Taylor in Barton-under-Needwood, Staffordshire, who were on an end-of-term art trip.
Holly’s twin sister Emma, who also attended the school, was not on the bus at the time of the crash.
The schoolchildren were on their way to Birmingham’s Botanical Gardens when the crash happened on the A38 in Castle Vale.
Buck, of Kingshurst, Birmingham, was charged with causing death by dangerous driving.
On the first day of his trial at Birmingham Crown Court, Buck changed his plea to guilty.
The court heard Buck had a previous conviction for driving without due care and attention on July 29, 2014.
Judge Mukherjee added: "You have relevant previous convictions which aggravate your situation.
"Holly was an artist and was excited. The trip had not started before it came to a tragic conclusion. Holly was wearing her seat belt sitting near the back."
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