Driver guilty after woman killed in CBD bus crash

A tragic incident unfolded in Brisbane's Central Business District on the afternoon of March 8, 2024, when an 18-year-old woman, Tia Cameron, was fatally struck by a city council bus. The crash happened just after 5 pm during the busy rush hour, leaving the young woman pinned against a building. The driver, 70-year-old Lindsay Francis Selby, was later found guilty of careless driving causing death by Magistrate Aaron Simpson in Brisbane Magistrates Court. Selby had pleaded not guilty to the charge of driving without due care or attention causing death, insisting that the incident was a tragic accident. However, after a one-day trial held in September, Magistrate Simpson delivered his verdict, asserting that Selby’s conduct fell below the reasonable standard expected of a professional driver. The court heard emotional scenes as Ms Cameron’s family wept upon the verdict announcement, while Selby remained stoic, showing no visible reaction. The details of the crash revealed that Selby turned his bus onto a busy street near Brisbane’s Central train station and failed to apply the brakes. CCTV footage showed the bus driver steering with one hand moments before the crash. As the bus swerved left at 23 km/h, it mounted the footpath, striking several pedestrians before pinning Tia Cameron against a wall. Selby told police post-crash that he feared slamming into four lanes of traffic and tried to steer into the building instead, not seeing Ms Cameron in his path. During the trial, conflicting arguments arose over whether Selby’s actions were criminally inattentive or merely an unfortunate accident. The defense argued that the prosecution couldn’t prove Selby failed to brake because he hadn’t seen a black SUV ahead while turning downhill. Selby's barrister, Saul Holt, stated, “We will just never know why he was unable to brake.” Meanwhile, the prosecution, led by Susan Hedge, maintained that Selby’s behavior amounted to carelessness, noting that mistakes behind the wheel have serious consequences, especially for professional drivers. Magistrate Simpson acknowledged that the prosecution and defense agreed on some facts: Selby turned on a busy street, didn’t brake, swerved left, and mounted the footpath before the fatal collision. He also noted that this was not a simple accident but a case where Selby’s driving fell short of expected standards. A lengthy explanation of the verdict’s reasoning was adjourned to be read later, highlighting the complexity and gravity of the case. This case underscores the risks posed by lapses in attention or errors by drivers, especially those operating large vehicles in dense urban areas. It also highlights the emotional toll such incidents take on victims’ families and communities, as well as the judicial challenges in balancing accident versus culpable negligence claims. Selby’s conviction serves as a reminder of the heavy responsibility borne by professional drivers on city streets.