Coroner seeks changes after inquest into death of Max McDowall at Woolloongabba

The inquest into the death of a 20-year-old cyclist in a crash involving a city council bus at a busy Brisbane intersection has sparked a request for sweeping changes.

Max McDowall died in an accident on May 27, 2021. Picture: Supplied

A coroner has recommended the State Government and Brisbane City Council review every single intersection in Brisbane in a bid to prevent fatal bus crashes.

Coroner Donald MacKenzie, who delivered his findings into the death of cyclist Maximilian Patrick McDowall on Thursday, also recommended all buses install “mobile eye” cameras to alert bus drivers to the presence of pedestrians, cyclists or other vehicles in blind spots.

Mr McDowall was just 20 when he died after sustaining multiple injuries riding his bike when he was hit by a Brisbane City Council bus on May 27, 2021.

He had been travelling along a dedicated bike/pedestrian path when upon crossing the intersection of the Southeast busway, with O’Keefe St and Gillingham St at Woolloongabba, he was struck by a bus which was turning left onto the busway. At the time he had been in the driver’s blind spot, the inquest heard.

Bus driver Andrew Rudnick, then 67, was later that year charged with failing to give way when turning at intersection with traffic lights however the police dropped the charge in March 2022.

Bus driver Andrew Rudnick after giving evidence at the inquest. Picture: Liam Kidston

Following an inquest Mr MacKenzie has found the “the principal cause” of the collision was the design and sequencing of the pedestrian road traffic light at the intersection of O’Keefe Street and the southeast busway.

“It provided lawful simultaneous access to the same pedestrian lane for both a bus and bicycle,” he said.

“The point was rightly made during the inquest that this collision did not involve Max and Mr Rudnicki being non-compliant with their respective traffic signals.”

This issue has now been rectified at that particular intersection with the provision of a “no left turn” red arrow preventing bus drivers crossing while the pedestrian lane, which Mr McDowall was in, has a “green man” right of way.

Mr MacKenzie said this was the lasting legacy of a “cherished young man who was lost to his family too soon”.

“His death has brought to the attention a dangerous problem with pedestrian and bicycle safety at Brisbane intersections,” he said.

“The positive is that pedestrian traffic light sequencing to reduce this danger, if red lights are obeyed, should prevent a repeat of this tragic collision.

“The challenge is to install in as many intersections as possible such pedestrian road traffic lights.”

Mr MacKenzie recommended BCC and the Department of Transport and Main Roads review every intersection in the Brisbane metropolitan area to prioritise the installation of these pedestrian safe traffic lights.

He also recommended BCC and TransLink Services “install in its full fleet” special cameras to assist bus drivers identifying hazard awareness training for pedestrians and cyclists.

A third recommendation involved BCC incorporating in any bus driver’s training and training manual, guidance on Blind Spot Mapping to assist bus drivers identifying hazard awareness of pedestrians and cyclists.

Lastly he recommended BCC review the bus driver Incident Report protocol and incorporate in any bus driver’s training and training manual, guidance and a set of criteria to assist bus drivers in providing appropriate information in an Incident Report.

Originally published as Coroner seeks changes after inquest into death of Max McDowall at Woolloongabba