Bus driver Jack Aston faces County Court trial over Montague St bridge crash
A BUS driver ignored five warning signs before crashing into the infamous low-clearance Montague St bridge, a court has heard.
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A BUS driver ignored five warning signs before crashing into the infamous low-clearance Montague St bridge, a court has heard.
Jack Aston, 55, is facing a County Court trial over the crash which seriously injured at least six passengers on February 22, 2016.
He has pleaded not guilty to six counts of negligence causing serious injury.
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Six passengers suffered horrific injuries including spinal and back fractures. One sustained amnesia from a brain injury.
Prosecutor Robert Barry told the jury Mr Aston had breached his duty of care to his passengers by being criminally negligent.
“There were five warning signs leading up to the bridge,” Mr Barry said.
“Warning signs alerting drivers of vehicles of height to be aware of the low clearance bridge and the need for these high vehicles to detour.
“All were in working order on the day.”
He said the first sign, 290m from the bridge, clearly stated there was a low bridge ahead with a 3m height clearance and that high vehicles should detour.
Similar traffic signposts warned motorists approaching 140m, 72m, 55m and 12m before the bridge, Mr Barry said.
He outlined a further sign on the bridge declared its low clearance, with red and white signage to draw attention to drivers.
A sensor perched 81m from the bridge, he said, also picked up the bus was too high, activating flashing lights on the bridge and an electronic billboard saying “Detour, high vehicle”.
The court heard witnesses told police the lights were flashing well before Mr Aston slammed into the bridge, without braking, at 56km/h.
Another motorist is expected to give evidence, Mr Barry said, that he honked his horn and flashed his high beam in an effort to alert the driver before impact.
“The force of that collision caused extensive damage to the bus, opening up the bus, and pushing it back to the fourth of fifth row,” Mr Barry said, showing the jury pictures of the scene.
“There was no braking by Mr Aston. There was no slowing down.”
Mr Aston had picked up the passengers from Melbourne’s Convention Centre where they were attending a conference and was taking them to another venue when the crash happened minutes later about 10.20am.
He told police he was not familiar with the roads and unclear on how to get to their destination, Mr Barry said.
The court heard Mr Aston had driven buses for Gold Bus in Ballarat since 2013 and that he was one of several buses contracted to ferry people that day from the conference.
“I was concentrating on driving, I suppose,” he allegedly said in his police interview.
A sign on the bus dashboard also alerted him that a 3.8m clearance is suggested for the 3.6m-high vehicle.
His lawyer Richard Edney asked the jury to “keep an open mind”.
He said they would hear evidence from VicRoads about the long history and frequency of strikes at the notorious bridge.
“You will hear it has been occurring for decades,” Mr Edney said.
The trial, before Judge Bill Stuart, continues.