Woman claims van driver attempted to run her over

A man is expected to be charged in court after a woman claimed that he made an attempt to run her over in San Gwann last Friday.

Speaking to The Sunday Times, the San Gwann woman, Maria-Gabriele Doublesin, explained how she had stepped off the pavement to stop an oncoming bus when a man in a white van tooted his horn.

"The driver obviously wanted me to get out of the way so he could stop his van on the bus stop," she said.

Ms Doublesin, who regularly catches the bus to Sliema from that particular bus stop, explained that she did not want to get back on the footpath for fear the bus would not see her and keep going. And it is illegal to park on bus stops.

Ms Doublesin, originally from Bavaria, said the driver looked at her angrily and drove the car in her direction, making her jump back.

"I had to get out of the way or he would have run me over. I told him that I would report him to the police, and he just reversed onto me," she said.

Fearful that the driver would get out of the car and assault her, Mrs Doublesin jumped on the bus, which had just pulled over.

Accompanied by her husband George, Mrs Doublesin filed a police report, following a visit to the health centre to have her injuries certified.

She was also treated for hypertension after her blood pressure spiked due to shock.

When contacted yesterday, the police said the van's driver had been questioned and would be charged in the near future.