Brisbane City Council bus driver charged with manslaughter after pedestrian fatally hit in South Brisbane

The Brisbane City Council bus driver charged with manslaughter following the death of a pedestrian who was fatally struck in South Brisbane last month has been granted bail.

Bus driver Carl James Van Der Wiel has been charged with manslaughter after a pedestrian was fatally struck in South Brisbane.

Police have charged a bus driver with manslaughter after a pedestrian was fatally struck in South Brisbane on June 28.

It will be alleged just after 11.30pm, a bus was travelling along Melbourne Street where it struck Ryan Pemble near the intersection of Cordelia Street.

Emergency services arrived at the scene a short time later, where Mr Pemble, who was aged in his 40s, died.

Following extensive investigations by the Forensic Crash Unit, a 59-year-old North Lakes man, the alleged driver of the bus, has been charged with manslaughter.

Ryan Pemble was fatally struck by a bus in South Brisbane on June 28.

Mr Pemble’s mother Vicki Pemble said her only son was on his “way home from catching up with friends” at the time.

Ms Pemble said she missed Ryan “dearly”.

“How on earth could this have happened?,” she said.

Carl James Van Der Wiel faced the Brisbane Magistrates Court where his barrister Joshua Jones, instructed by Gilshenan and Luton, applied for bail which was not opposed by police.

Mr Jones said that since the incident, his client had engaged lawyers who had been liaising with police through the investigation.

“There is an account said to have been given by him whilst he’s in shock. That account … has been verified,” he said.

“Police obtained the CCTV footage from internal and external cameras fitted to the bus. When the footage was reviewed police observed the incident occurred as described. So I’m assuming they’re talking to that as how he described it to them.”

He indicated his client had strong ties to the community.

The scene where a man has died after being struck by a bus in South Brisbane. Picture: Liam Kidston

“He’s worked for Brisbane City Council for five years. Prior to that he was a registered nurse,” Mr Jones said.

Van Der Wiel has been stood down by the council, the court has heard.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Wade Domagala asked a reporting condition be attached to his bail given the seriousness of the alleged offence.

Magistrate Julian Noud said Van Der Wiel had no criminal history and largely no traffic history.

“I consider that any risk of the defendant failing to appear does not loom large in the circumstances of this case, given the defendant’s family reside here,” he said.

Van Der Wiel was granted bail with a residential condition and the case was adjourned to August 26.

Rail, Tram, and Bus Union (RTBU) – Queensland bus division secretary Tom Brown said they were also “taken aback” by the charge.

A Brisbane City Council spokesman said it worked closely with police during the investigation.

“This charge will come as a real shock to many Brisbane residents and our heart goes out to the man’s family and friends,” the spokesman said.

“Council has worked closely with the Queensland Police Service and will continue to provide whatever assistance is required.

“Given this matter is now before the courts, Council is unable to comment further.”

It follows the death of Tia Cameron, who was killed after a bus mounted a footpath in the CBD earlier this year. Picture: Facebook.

The North Lakes bus driver worked with the council for about four-and-a-half years.

He was stood down immediately after the incident.

The charges come after council commissioned an independent review into bus driver safety after a spate of incidents.

The review recommended changes to the health assessment framework for Queensland bus drivers aged over 60 years old.

Ten of Brisbane City Council’s 2730 bus drivers have been stood down on safety grounds this year because of a poor driving record.

The latest incident follows the death of Tia Cameron after a bus mounted the footpath on Edward St in the city.

Lindsay Selby arriving at the Brisbane Magistrates' Court. Picture: Darren England

Bus driver Lindsay Frances Selby, 70, has been charged with one count of driving without due care and attention causing death.

The case will be next mentioned in September.