Mum’s tribute to Tia Cameron as community rallies behind family of CBD bus tragedy victim

The aunty of the 18-year-old woman killed in a freak Brisbane bus crash has revealed the final message as support builds for her grief-stricken family.

• Tragic hours: The frantic search for Tia

The family of a young woman killed in a freak bus crash in the Brisbane CBD have revealed the final message they received from her just hours before the tragedy.

Tia Cameron, 18, was killed when an out-of-control Brisbane City Council bus mounted a footpath packed with peak-hour pedestrians about 5pm on Friday.

She had just had her eyelashes done and was walking out of a beauty salon, on her way to have cocktails with her aunty, when she was hit by the bus at the corner of Ann and Edward streets.

Tia Cameron, 18, was killed in a tragic bus accident in Brisbane’s CBD on Friday afternoon. Picture: Facebook.

Tia’s devastated aunty Karma Te Awhitu said: “We just feel like she’s been stolen from us.”

“She messaged me at 4pm saying she was getting her lashes done and asking if I wanted to catch up for a quick cocktail before she headed home,” she said.

“When I hadn’t heard from her and her partner hadn’t heard from her, we realised she was missing and started looking for her. I was ringing the hospital and Hayden was calling the police and even went to the police station to file a missing-person report, because it was just so out of character for her.

“There was absolutely no contact, and even after all our calls, no-one could tell us what had happened.

The cause of the tragic bus crash is under investigation.

“It wasn’t until about 10.30 or 11 o’clock last night that the police rocked up at my sister’s (Jade) house and told her. We are a bit upset about that.”

Tia’s mother Jade Te Awhitu said she was heartbroken at the loss of her only child.

“She was only 18 and had her whole life ahead of her,” Ms Te Awhitu said.

Meanwhile, two GoFundMe campaigns have been set up to raise money for the family of Miss Cameron.

One GoFundMe campaign was created by Tamara Te Ohaere on behalf of Karma Te Whaiti and “the whānau (family) of Tia Angel”.

“Our beautiful Tia Angel grew her angel wings... we have set this go fund me up for those near and far to help the whānau at this time,” she wrote.

The other was set up by Christine Melrose, mother of the victim’s boyfriend, Hayden.

“My son Hayden lost the love of his life this night,” she wrote.

“If we could all get together to make life a little bit easier with the costs of giving this beautiful, beautiful young lady the goodbye she deserves, please donate to this go fund me.”

The campaigns were each nearing $1000, and aimed to raise thousands more.

A paramedic speaks to witnesses at the scene of Friday night’s crash. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Brisbane City Council at the weekend revealed the brakes of the bus had been tested last month as part of routine 10,000km testing.

Transport for Brisbane divisional manager Samantha Abeydeera said the vehicle would now go through an engineering investigation to ensure there were no mechanical failures.

“And that’s part of the investigation. So there is police investigation that will be done and then there is also an internal investigation,” she said.

The union representing bus drivers on Monday said it “will not get involved in speculation” about the cause of Friday’s horror CBD crash.

Tom Brown, from the Rail, Tram and Bus Union, said it would be supporting police and Brisbane City Council investigations into the tragedy.

Flowers left at the scene of the crash that claimed Tia Cameron’s life. Picture: David Clark

“These investigations will follow a process of elimination that will lead us to the facts surrounding the incident,” he said.

“We will not get involved in speculation at any time but will speak only to what the investigations turn up. The family deserve answers and so does the union and the people of Brisbane.

“We will be supporting the investigations, both police and internal.

“Our members are a vital part of the Brisbane community. They play a critical role in making Brisbane a great place to live and work and are some of the best drivers in the country.”

Grief grips the Brisbane CBD at the weekend. Picture: David Clark

Mr Brown said the union, like everyone, was shocked to hear of the incident.

“On behalf of the Tram & Bus Division of the RTBU, I want to pass on my condolences to the family of the young woman who lost her life,” he said.

“Our hearts go out to Tia’s family, it’s impossible to imagine their grief.

“Additionally, our thoughts are also with our member who was driving the bus and others who witnessed the incident.”

Mr Brown said several bus drivers who witnessed the incident or came upon the scene were receiving trauma counselling.