Daughters pay tribute to woman killed in bus supermarket crash

Relatives of a pensioner killed when a double-decker bus ploughed into a supermarket have paid tribute to her as someone who dedicated her life to caring for others.

In separate statements issued through police, the daughters of Dora Hancox said she lost her husband to dementia two years ago.

Mrs Hancox, a former foster carer aged in her 70s, and seven-year-old Rowan Fitzgerald were both pronounced dead at the scene after the bus smashed into the side of a Sainsbury's store in Coventry on Saturday.

One daughter of the pensioner, who has asked not to be named, said: "Our mother will be sadly missed, not only by her family, but by friends as well.

"She will finally be able to be reunited with her husband, our father, who tragically passed away from dementia two years ago.

"This has been a horrible shock to all of us.

"Our mother dedicated many years of her life when my sister and I were growing up as a foster carer for Coventry social services; she was also a local school lollipop lady both in Coventry area and in Nuneaton for many years."

In her statement, the victim's other daughter added: "My mum has struggled to come to terms with the loss of my dad as he suffered from dementia two years ago.

"This tragedy has cut short her life at the time she was just starting to live again.

"She will be sadly missed by all and her grandchildren and great-grandchildren will now not have the opportunity to gain memories from getting to know her."

Meanwhile, officers investigating the crash are still appealing for witnesses to come forward.

Inspector Paul Bennett, from the West Midlands' Collision Investigation Unit, said: "We are in the process of taking in the region of 150 statements in relation to the collision and we believe that there may be more people who have not yet come forward.

"We have also identified hours of CCTV which is currently being scrutinised.

"Our priority is to ensure that the investigation is comprehensive and thorough to achieve a definitive cause for the collision and this could take several months.

"We have several officers and specialist staff from partner agencies conducting a thorough examination of the bus, which is being held in a compound, as is standard process in any investigation of this nature."

Mr Bennett added: "The families of Rowan and Dora have suffered a devastating loss and our deepest sympathies remain with them.

"We are continuing to support them and we ask that they are left alone to cope with their loss in peace."