The bus driver, Alma George Randell, 72, later admitted a charge of careless driving causing death and was sentenced today to a mixed sentence of community work and community detention.<\/p>\n
Olawande was four months pregnant when she died and mother to an 8-year-old boy, Imole.<\/p>\n
Segun Braimoh said that when Imole heard his mother had been taken to hospital, the child texted her to say he hoped she would return with the baby brother he had been told was coming.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was his hope. That was what his little 8-year-old mind was expecting,\u201d Segun said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe thought she was coming home with her new son. She never came home. Neither did his baby brother.\u201d<\/p>\n
Segun Braimoh described Olawande<\/a>, commonly known as Wande, as \u201ca person who brought joy and happiness into the lives of the people around her\u201d. <\/p>\n She had been due to start studying for a master\u2019s degree in social sciences in July.<\/p>\n In addition to being a \u201cbeautiful wife\u201d and mother, she was a daughter, sister, friend and a servant to her church and community. <\/p>\n The family moved to Hawke\u2019s Bay from Nigeria<\/a> in 2023.<\/p>\n When Segun arrived at Hawke\u2019s Bay Hospital after being told about the accident, he was informed by a police officer that his wife had died.<\/p>\n \u201cI remember collapsing on to the ground. I remember refusing to believe it. I remember the most unimaginable searing pain in my heart I\u2019d ever felt,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I was taken to see her, I called her name. I called her name again and again. <\/p>\n \u201cI prayed that somehow she would hear me and open her eyes. But she was gone.\u201d<\/p>\n Defence counsel Matt Phelps said Randell was haunted by what happened that day and would carry the burden of it for the rest of his life. <\/p>\n \u201cHe very much understands the catastrophic consequences of his actions,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Judge Richard Earwaker said Randell was a first-time offender and a man who had spent the best part of his life serving the community.<\/p>\n He served in the Navy for 20 years and was a Corrections officer for 19.<\/p>\n Judge Earwaker said Randell drove on to the intersection under a green light and Olawande was crossing on a green signal.<\/p>\n However, Randell did not heed a sign requiring turning traffic to give way to pedestrians and when he struck Olawande he momentarily hit the accelerator in a \u201cpanic response\u201d before applying the brake.<\/p>\n Intersection was \u2018notoriously dangerous\u2019<\/p>\nOlawande Braimoh, 36, was four months pregnant when she was hit by a bus in Napier. Photo \/ RNZ <\/p>\n