CBD streets shutdown as police recreate tragic bus route
The boyfriend of an 18-year-old woman killed in a freak bus crash in Brisbane’s CBD has returned to the scene to watch as police conducted an early morning operation to investigate the cause of the accident.
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The boyfriend of an 18-year-old woman who died in a shock crash last month has returned to the scene to get “answers” and watch police conduct an early morning operation to investigate the cause of a crash.
Hayden McKinley told the Courier Mail he “needed” to see the operation being conducted. Police worked with a Brisbane City Council worker between 7am to 8am to turn the corner once over all four lanes, taking pictures.
Mr McKinley was supported by two friends watching the whole “testing” unfold.
“We came down this morning just to try and piece together what actually happened on the day, just for peace of mind and that’s about it really,” he said.
“It was hard watching but it had to be done.”
“I think it needed to happen, just to piece everything down to the very end of the puzzle to get everything in place.”
Mr McKinley said watching the bus turn the corner did help with some questions answered but “some answers we are never going to get.”
Since the incident occurred, Mr McKinley tries to visit where it happened as frequently as he can.
“I just sit down here and take it all in and just think - every time I come here I think why did it happen? How did it happen?” he said.
More than a month has passed since the horrific accident, but every day is just as hard as the next.
“I take it day by day, you put on a brave face and keep going as hard as it is but I’ve got to keep pushing through - I know that’s what she would want,” he said.
“She was the most amazing person, always happy, just so beautiful. We were together for forever, she was 12 when I met her, I was 13. She’s been a part of my life for a very long time.”
He said he missed so many things she used to do.
“I used to get phone calls from her every morning before work, after work, during work,” he said.
“I used to meet up with her most days.
“ I’m lost without her, she was the one person that I had everything with but now it’s gone.”
Police closed Ann, Edward and Adelaide streets just after 7am and concluded at the scene just after 8.
Queensland Police Acting Deputy Commissioner Chris Stream said the Sunday morning operation was finalised quicker than anticipated.
“What it involved was the forensic crash unit positioning the bus along the route taken by the bus involved in the crash and involved forensic crash investigators and photographers taking images of that bus along that route,” he said.
“It just took less time than was originally anticipated.”
In the wake of the tragedy, council revealed the brakes on the bus had just been tested a month before the crash.
Tia had just had her eyelashes done and was planning to meet a family member for cocktails when the accident occurred after she had walked out of the beauty salon.
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