On a Saturday morning last summer, a Kent town was left shellshocked when a bus ploughed into a man sitting in a station shelter.

Now, one year on from the tragedy that claimed the life of the much-loved pensioner, there is still no definitive explanation as to how the accident occurred…

Bouverie Square in Folkestone was busy with shoppers getting on and off buses on the morning of August 20, as retired social worker Ruth Knudsen waited for the number 16 home to Hythe.

The 68-year-old was looking out across the station when she realised something terrible was about to happen. A bus, which she believes was travelling at no more than 10mph, suddenly veered off course and headed straight towards John Spearpoint, who was sat at a stop in the centre of the square.

“I didn’t see it until it went off its trajectory,” Ms Knudsen recalls.

“It was going very slowly, and what surprised me is that the bus driver didn’t use his horn, because he could see he was heading towards the centre of the bus station, the bus shelters, and potentially people.”

Having seen Mr Spearpoint - a 72-year-old who lived in Bonsor Road, Folkestone - was directly in the path of the oncoming vehicle, Ms Knudsen knew he was in grave danger.

“It was almost like slow motion,” she said.

“I could see what was about to happen, but was totally powerless because I knew I wouldn’t be able to scream or run over to this man in time to warn him.

“It was really sickening, and frightening, and I’m afraid to say I couldn’t watch the point of contact because I knew this man was going to be likely killed.

“I did close my eyes. I couldn't watch as it happened, and I heard the crash. And then I opened my eyes and saw the sheer devastation. The railings down, the bus shelter on top of the man with the bus on top of them both, lots of broken glass, people running and shouting.”

An inquest into Mr Spearpoint’s death was opened on September 16.

The hearing was told how he died in a London hospital eight days after the crash from injuries sustained when the single-decker Stagecoach 103 service to Lydd struck the shelter where he had been sitting.

The full inquest was adjourned to allow Kent Police to continue its investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death. One year on, that investigation remains ongoing.

Mr Spearpoint was known in the town for his involvement in model-making and he had previously worked at the Model Transport shop that once traded on Guildhall Street.

His former employer at the store, Trevor Claringbold, paid tribute to him by describing him as "very laid back, gentle, always smiling".

"He was good fun, he was always part of the team," he said.

"Everybody liked him. He was just one of those guys that you instantly took a liking to. He didn't have a bad word to say about anybody and just lived life to the full.

"He used to enjoy himself and just got on with things that made him happy."

Ms Knudsen says she is still haunted by the events of August 20, and told KentOnline she still regrets being unable to alert Mr Spearpoint to the imminent danger.

“I'm really shocked that we don't know what has happened,” she said.

“I gave a statement to the police a matter of days after this accident, and for it to be a year on, it seems awful that there's no outcome, that people don't know whether the buses in Folkestone are safe. And this poor man, he will have friends and family and they don't know what happened.”

We asked bus operator Stagecoach for comment on the crash, but they declined due to the ongoing police investigation.

At the time of the fatal accident, a spokesman for the firm said: "Our heart goes out to the family of the gentleman who has died and to his loved ones. We are continuing to assist the investigation into the incident in every way that we can."

Kent Police says it continues to look into the circumstances of the tragedy, and anyone with information which they have yet to supply to officers is urged to come forward.

A spokesman said: “Officers are carrying out a thorough investigation, including speaking to those involved and other witnesses, and gathering expert evidence. Anyone with information who has yet to speak to police should call the appeal line on 01622 798538, quoting reference MM/VS/094/22.”