MOTORCYCLE riders were left with fractured spines after ‘flying’ to the ground when a bus driver ran a red light, a court has heard.

David Ryan was driving a double-decker Stagecoach bus when he failed to stop at traffic lights before turning right into Water Eaton Park and Ride, Oxford Crown Court was told.

The 36-year-old’s ‘dangerous’ driving left Harley Davidson driver Rick Gumbert and his passenger Sandra Arnold with serious injuries after the collision on Banbury Road, prosecutor Richard Moss alleged.

Opening the case today, Mr Moss said Ryan was driving towards Kidlington at about 8.30pm on July 4, 2014.

It had been raining but there were no ‘physical’ obstructions in the road for the bus driver, of Hanborough Close, Eynsham, the prosecutor continued.

The traffic lights changed to amber as the driver approached the junction but he failed to stop, turning into the park and ride 0.6 seconds after the lights switched to red, Mr Moss said.

Mr Gumbert was travelling in the opposite direction when the vehicles collided, shattering the bus windows, the court was told.

Mr Moss told jurors: “[Ryan] should have and failed to anticipate the lights would change.

“He failed to notice when they did in fact change to red. He failed to brake appropriately in the circumstances in order to bring his bus to a halt before the lights turned red.

“He failed to see the approaching motorcycle at all. He did not notice it until the collision. This driving was not just careless, it was dangerous.”

The jury was told Mr Gumbert was left with a fractured spine, left ankle and knee, as well as swelling.

Passenger Ms Arnold, who remembers nothing of the collision, had a fractured spine and injury to her arm, the court was told.

Giving evidence today, Mr Gumbert told the court he was heading to a friend’s house in Cowley when he approached traffic lights near the park and ride, continuing ahead as they changed to green.

Wearing a helmet and shades while riding, Mr Gumbert spotted a ‘white light’ moving in front of him moments before the crash, instinctively leaning his bike to the right.

But he was unable to avoid the collision and the two riders were flung from the motorcycle to the ground, Mr Gumbert explained.

The witness, who has been riding motorcycles for more than 30 years, said there was nothing more he could have done to avoid the collision, which was over in a ‘split second’.

Marian Knight, who was driving a Honda Jazz, claimed Ryan did not brake before running the red light.

Jurors were told the defendant denies two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving but has accepted he was driving without due care and attention.

The trial continues.