A BUS driver admitted accidentally hitting the accelerator instead of the brake seconds before ploughing into a pedestrian on the pavement.

Cheikh Senghor, of St John’s Road, Wallingford, was driving a double decker bus in Gun Street, Reading, on June 24, when he lost control and crashed into pedestrian Simon Smith.

The court heard how Senghor was driving the Reading Buses Purple 17 at an ‘excessive speed’ when the vehicle suddenly surged forward.

The 40-year-old said he hit the accelerator instead of the brake, leaving Mr Smith, a lorry driver, with serious injuries after the bus mounted the pavement and hit him from behind.

The crash was caught on CCTV and the video went viral after Mr Smith was seen dusting himself down and walking into the nearby Purple Turtle bar.

At Reading Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, Senghor admitted a single count of dangerous driving and will now appear at Reading Crown Court for sentencing.

Ann Sawyer-Brandish, prosecuting, said: “The bus had been travelling at an excessive speed in a busy area and the vehicle was not able to be brought under control.

“They (the injuries) were significant. There were fractures and internal bruising.”

After hitting Mr Smith, Senghor crashed th bus into the wall of Reading Minster.

Alexander Dos Santos, defending, said: “There was a mistake made by the defendant which led to a chain reaction of events.

“What happened is these buses sometimes surge forward. Rather than dealing with it appropriately by pushing the brakes, he pushed the wrong pedal and that meant he pushed the accelerator.

“It is not the suggestion that his accident was caused because of the surge.”

District Judge Davinder Lachhar said: "It is luck rather than judgement that someone was not killed on this occasion.

"It is a busy part of the area. It is lucky that there was only one person there.”

Senghor was granted unconditional bail.