Man charged over CBD crash that claimed life of 18-year-old Tia Cameron

The boyfriend of a woman tragically killed when a bus careened off the road in Brisbane’s CBD has revealed the heartbreaking final words they shared just minutes before she lost her life.

The boyfriend of a teenager fatally struck by a bus in Brisbane’s CBD has revealed the heartbreaking final words they shared just minutes before she lost her life.

Tia Cameron was killed on March 8 after a bus mounted the footpath on Edward St in the city, pinning her against the Anzac Square arcade building.

Speaking to Nine News, Hayden McKinlay revealed he received a video message from Ms Cameron showing off the beauty treatment shortly after leaving a salon that day.

They also spoke on the phone, with Mr McKinlay revealing their last words were: “I love you and I’ll see you soon.”

Tia Cameron and Hayden McKinlay. Picture: Nine

“I still think I’m still going to hear from her, I’m still going to see her. The truth is it’s not going to happen,” Mr McKinlay said

“We had so much planned together – to travel, to buy our first home, to have children. It was all there, until this happened.”

Mr McKinlay broke his silence three months after Ms Cameron’s death, which sparked an outpouring of grief across Queensland.

Emergency crews on the scene of the crash on Edward St. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen.

On Tuesday, Tia’s family launched a scathing attack on the driver as he was charged over the collision.

The 70-year-old bus driver from Underwood has been issued a notice to appear in court on one count of careless driving causing death.

It is alleged he was behind the wheel of a bus being driven along Edward St that left the road and struck Ms Cameron before colliding with a building just before 5pm on March 8.

Ms Cameron’s mother, Jade Te Awhitu, said while she appreciated the hard work of investigators, “nothing changes for us … Tia is gone”.

Mr McKinlay said they were planning their future when the tragedy occurred.

“Her life that just started was stolen,” Ms Te Awhitu said.

She said the family still did not know the driver’s name.

“He’s still anonymous to us, and with that he hasn’t bother to reach out and give us his condolences, to say he’s sorry, nothing,” she said.

“It’s cowardly, he hasn’t given us the option to forgive. So we will hope for justice and accountability.”

Emergency services arrived at the scene a short time later where the 18-year-old Hemmant woman was declared deceased.

The driver of the bus and four passengers sustained minor injuries and were taken to hospital for assessment.

The Courier-Mail understands the driver has been suspended with pay since the incident.

Ms Cameron 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 struck.

Tia Cameron, 18, was killed in the crash. Photo: Facebook.

She was farewelled in an emotional funeral service where mourners remembered her as “vivacious” and “audacious”.

Her boyfriend Hayden McKinlay, spoke of the young couple’s plans for the future.

“I will forever miss our little calls, I will wait every day for the phone to ring just to hear your voice, the last words we said to each other were ‘I love you’ and we truly meant it,” he said.

Tia Cameron had just walked out of a beauty salon when the incident occurred. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen.

“We had so much of our lives planned together, buying our first home next year, trips away … Tia wanted to go to New Zealand at the end of the year to see the snow and her family.

“Our life together was so happy.”

A number of streets in the Brisbane CBD were shut down in late April to allow police to conduct re-enactments in a bid to piece together how the fatal collision occurred.

Tributes for Ms Cameron in the wake of the March 8 crash. Picture: David Clark

Following extensive investigations by the Forensic Crash Unit, the 70-year-old bus driver was issued a notice to appear on one count of careless driving causing death.

He is expected to appear at the Brisbane Magistrates Court on June 26, 2024.

Originally published as Man charged over CBD crash that claimed life of 18-year-old Tia Cameron