A mechanic was crushed to death under a runaway bus as it careered down Morden Hall Road last Wednesday (September 8).

Horrified onlookers watched a lorry driver’s desperate attempt to stop the empty bus by jumping into the cab and applying the brakes.

But, by the time he managed to apply the handbrake, engineer Carlos Foster, 48, who had been attempting to fix the out-of-service bus, was fatally injured - pushed along the road for more than 40 feet while wedged under the front of the bus.

Lorry Driver John Seacombe said: “It wasn’t moving fast but it travelled with enough speed for the wing mirror to be knocked off. I didn’t think about what I was doing - I just realised there was no one on the bus and I had to do something.

“It was all over so quickly - I jumped in and put the brakes on. There was a spanner and a screwdriver on the pavement which I put in the bus and even then I hadn’t noticed the mechanic. It was only when I went to get my phone to call 999 that I saw his legs. I just couldn’t look.”

He added: “His legs were some distance from the front wheels and it looked as if he’d been rolled over and over by the front of the bus. It must have pushed him at least 40 or 50 feet.”

Emergency services were at the scene just after 7.30pm. Fire crews freed the unconscious mechanic using inflatable devices but he died in St George’s hospital early on Thursday morning.

Mr Seacombe added: “I’ve nothing but full praise for the police, ambulance and fire crews. They were there within minutes and lifted the bus in no time, but I guess there was nothing that could be done to save him.”

Bus company Go Ahead London said a full investigation would be launched and CCTV footage had been passed to the police.

Commercial manager Colin Farrant said: “Staff at bus garages tend to be close communities and there is genuine shock and sadness across our company at the loss of this popular colleague. Our thoughts and condolences go out to his wife and family at this difficult time.”

The stranded bus - thought to be a 118 running between Morden and Brixton - came to a halt 50 yards beyond the junction of Abberconway Road. Sections of both roads were closed after the incident as police investigated.