A London bus driver has admitted being under the influence of drugs when he killed nine-year-old Ada Bicakci in a tragic crash in Bexleyheath.
Martin Asolo-Agogua, 23, from Nunhead, pleaded guilty at Woolwich Crown Court on Tuesday to causing death by dangerous driving and driving while unfit through drugs, specifically cannabis.
The court heard that Asolo-Agogua had been awake all night attending a social event before he crashed the vehicle into Ada and her five-year-old brother on Watling Street at around 9.05am on August 3, 2024. The children were with a family member at the time.
Both siblings were rushed to hospital, but Ada succumbed to her injuries two days later. Her younger brother survived.
Appearing in court, Judge Ben Gumpert KC told the defendant that a prison sentence was inevitable.
“You have pleaded guilty to a very serious offence which has resulted in a young child losing her life,” the judge said.
“The circumstances of this offence are such that in my view it is inevitable that you will be sent immediately to prison.”
He noted several aggravating factors, including the fact that Asolo-Agogua was behind the wheel of a bus, had consumed cannabis, and had not slept prior to the collision.
“Even if the court considers this to fall within the middle range of culpability, the starting point would be six years in prison,” he added.
Asolo-Agogua has been granted bail until sentencing in June.
Earlier in the proceedings, he had attempted to avoid press photographers by wearing a balaclava, hoodie, and hat before leaping over a railing to evade cameras.
A Life Cut Short
Ada, a dual British and Turkish national, was described as a “keen gymnast and swimmer.” Following her death, her family made the decision to donate her organs, which went on to help save the lives of six other children.
In a moving tribute shared via a GoFundMe page, her family wrote:
“We have been hit and shattered into pieces, one became six, living in new places.
Thanks are not enough to show our gratitude. We’ll honour Ada with acts of magnitude.”
The fundraiser, launched in Ada’s memory, is aimed at supporting the emergency services and hospital staff who cared for her in her final moments.
Asolo-Agogua was arrested at the scene of the crash on the day of the incident.
Public Reaction
The case has drawn widespread attention and sorrow in Bexleyheath and beyond, with many expressing outrage that a public service driver could behave so recklessly.
Ada’s tragic death has become a rallying point for campaigners demanding stricter drug testing and rest-hour enforcement for public transport operators.
As the community awaits the sentencing in June, there is a growing call for justice in Ada’s name—and for renewed attention to the safety of children on London’s streets.
