Devastated Parents Speak Out After 9-Year-Old Girl Tragically Dies During Family Walk
In a unique memorial to a young girl whose life ended tragically while she was with her family, loved ones have come together.
The terrible event that killed 9-year-old Ada Zeynep Bicakci on August 3, 2024, has come to light again as her distraught parents, Nevgül and Bora Bicakci, recently discussed the occurrence. Little Ada was killed by a drunken bus driver named Martin Asolo-Agogua, age 23, on Watling Street in Bexleyheath.
The terrible crash that occurred shortly after nine in the morning claimed Ada’s life. With contagious enthusiasm, she had been riding her bike to her favorite gymnastics class, followed closely by their father, Bora, on a bicycle and her five-year-old brother on a scooter.
Martin’s double-decker bus, which was out of control from the bus garage to the start of its run, disrupted that tranquil family vacation, according to prosecutor Charlotte Hole.
Before the bus lurched onto the pavement and crashed into Ada and her brother, footage taken from inside the bus showed him clearly fatigued, yawning, nodding off, and fighting to keep his eyes open.
The crash was characterized by onlookers as unpredictable. After seeing the bus swerve toward the other side of the road, one driver allegedly exclaimed, “What is he doing?” while another car behind him observed his concerning actions.
The motorist was obviously unable to drive after using cannabis and telling a pal, “I’ve got work at 8, so I ain’t sleeping,” according to later texts. Ada sustained severe injuries, despite her sibling surviving the impact.
Ada battled for two days in the hospital with her brother before succumbing to her wounds. Witnessing the entire event, Ada’s father meticulously detailed the eerie moment.
He heard the sound of the tire hitting the curb. He remembered looking back and seeing Ada’s body bouncing between the wall and the bus. cradling her in my arms. Every breath was a struggle for her shattered lungs. Her eyes were dimming.
Her brother, who was standing behind me, was startled with fear. The bus is slipping away. People are coming to lend a hand. Sam is taking over. I feel a surge of hope, which is swiftly followed by a wave of despair.
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“The images of that horrific event continue to linger in my memory. That scene never stops playing, serving as a continual reminder of the day my world fell apart irreparably. This tragedy—a father’s ultimate failure—took place while I was watching. My entire life has been upended, and my family’s foundations have also fallen apart,” Bora claimed.
Said from a place of unfathomable sorrow, these words have come to symbolize the destruction—and determination—of a family.
According to the court, Martin joined Arriva the following year after getting his driver’s license in January 2023, meaning he had only been working there for a short while. He had received numerous complaints in that short time from both passengers and other drivers, ranging from reckless driving to damaging bus stops and stationary cars.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsBus driver Martin Asolo-Agogua, 23, drove a London bus which killed Ada Bicakci aged 9, while high on cannabis. He pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving on Tuesday, April 22, in Bexleyheath.
— David Atherton (@DaveAtherton20) April 23, 2025
He will be sentenced in June & the judge warned him of prison.… pic.twitter.com/pnUQ8TYOrX
In a previous incident, an abrupt halt caused a child passenger to fall to the ground, leading to his temporary suspension. Despite the warning signs, the Bicakcis promptly restored him, a move they perceive as indicative of a larger systemic breakdown.
Martin pleaded guilty to causing death by hazardous driving and driving when unfit through drugs, and on June 9, 2025, he was sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court to four years in prison and a seven-year driving suspension.
It left the Bicakcis empty. They said the penalty was “unduly lenient” and acknowledged that the police are now contesting the decision.
Officer Sergeant Sam Miles, the officer in charge of the investigation, also offered his thoughts on Martin’s sentence, saying, “Asolo-Ogugua will have to live the rest of his life regretting the night he decided to stay awake before driving a bus while under the influence of cannabis. It’s a night that has stolen an innocent little girl’s life and cost him his freedom.”
Bora, speaking on behalf of the family, stated that although the criminal case is now over, their mission is far from over. Saying, “We seek not just justice for our daughter but a safer future for everyone,” he advocated for broad changes in driver accountability and traffic safety.
Ada’s mother, Nevgül, talked of her daughter’s compassion and energy with heartfelt affection. Ada gave her hair to the Little Princess Trust a few weeks before her passing, stating that “everyone should have hair.”
Nevgül reflected on her loss, saying, “I lost my angel. My smile. My heart is fluttering. Ada is my best friend. The mother-daughter days [sic] I had with Ada were the most lovely days of my life.
The courageous choice Ada’s family took to donate her organs after the tragedy helped save six other children, which they describe as “a testament to her giving spirit.”
Later, they received the Order of St. John’s Award in recognition of their donation. The Bicakcis, in spite of their loss, are committed to turning their suffering into meaning. “This senseless act, rooted in driver negligence and systemic failures, ignited our unyielding fight to ensure a safer future for all,” they said.
The family is getting ready to start a campaign to push for improved safety procedures, more stringent government and transit authority supervision, and greater responsibility.
“Our voice resonates with other victims as well as other bus drivers who want to avoid similar future pain,” they reiterated, highlighting how urgent institutional change is.
The family has chosen to let Ada’s memory live on—not only in grief, but in action—by turning their grief into advocacy with the help of groups like Brake, Roadpeace, and the Sarah Hope Line.
“My sweetheart, Ada. There are not enough words to express how much we appreciate you. We shall perform great deeds to honor [sic] your name.” I will always remember you,” Bora said. He and Nevgül have also sent their sincere gratitude for the overwhelming support from the public, their community, news organizations, journalists, and authorities.
The family has also stated that they intend to hold a celebration near the tragedy’s scene to commemorate its one-year anniversary. To commemorate Ada’s life, they have created an Instagram page and encourage the public and media to spread the word about their plans and appeal.
Her mother, Nevgül, recently posted a heartfelt remembrance on Facebook, demonstrating the depth of Ada’s influence and the unwavering love of her family.
The post, which featured a moving montage of images and video, documented an incredible act of remembrance: Ada’s extended family in Turkey planted two thousand trees in her honor. In the midst of unspeakable grief, the montage depicts beautiful moments as family members, young and old, come together to plant roots in the ground.
Our appreciation for them is immeasurable. We are such a lovely family. We are extremely fortunate to have one another. Together, we can create a better world. “You are all so loved,” Nevgül wrote. In addition to serving as a living tribute to a lively young girl whose life was tragically ended, the recently planted forest now represents resiliency, community, and hope.
As they grieve this profound loss, we would like to offer our deepest sympathies to Nevgül, Bora, Ada’s brother, her whole family, friends, and community, as well as to everyone who knew and loved her. In the midst of their sorrow, we wish them healing. Ada, rest in peace.
