Mother of Whitsunday bus crash victim Casey Stinson-Brown angry over delay

The mother of a teen killed in a devastating bus rollover in the Whitsundays has questioned why the state government has still not acted on coronial recommendations.

Nikki Brown, mother of Casey Stinson-Brown who was killed a bus rollover at the Whitsundays, wants to know why the state government hasn’t acted on coronial recommendations handed down 12 months ago following an inquest into her son’s death.

The mother of a Whitsunday teen killed after he was flung from his seat in a devastating bus rollover has questioned why the state government has still not acted on coronial recommendations made 12 months ago.

“I don’t know what takes so long to make a decision on something that is going to keep the public safe,” Nikki Brown said.

Her son Casey Stinson-Brown was sitting in the second last row of a route bus travelling from Cannonvale to Proserpine when it left Shute Harbour Rd just after 1pm on February 16, 2016 because of the momentary inattention of 70-year-old driver Alan Dorman.

The bus travelled along a grassy culvert before hitting a raised dirt driveway becoming airborne – as a result the 19-year-old Tafe student, and many of the 10 other passengers and driver, were flung from their seats.

Casey Stinson-Brown died in a Whitsunday bus crash in February 2016.

When the bus landed it rolled, Casey was thrown into the opposite wall and fatally struck his head.

Ms Brown could only identify her son from his tattoos, his face had been unrecognisable.

Two other passengers were seriously injured – one suffered a traumatic hand amputation while the other had a “major degloving of the forearm”.

Casey had not been wearing a seatbelt, which was the subject of a coronial inquest in early 2021.

11 people plus the driver had been travelling on the bus when it rolled while travelling between Cannonvale and Proserpine.

Currently seatbelts are only required on long distance coach services and school buses travelling on long steep, and very steep roads.

“They are very lucky that it wasn’t a bus full of school kids that day … lucky it was only a bus with 12 people,” Ms Brown said.

On December 16, 2021, Central Coroner David O’Connell handed down his findings in which he called on the state government to mandate seatbelts on route buses within 12 months.

Mr O’Connell found that had Casey been wearing a seatbelt “he would have suffered non-fatal injuries and … survived the crash”.

Shae Stinson and Nikki Brown, Casey Stinson-Brown's sister and mother outside court after the coronial inquest held in March 2021 into the 19 year old's death. Picture: Janessa Ekert

“Mr Brown’s death was to my mind an entirely preventable death,” the coroner found.

Route buses can seat up to 51 people plus a further 42 standing passengers.

“Imagine if there was 100 people on the bus,” Ms Brown said.

As well as mandating seatbelts for every new route bus brought into service after December 1, 2022, Mr O’Connell recommended all remaining route buses be made seatbelt compliant within 10 to 12 years or retired from service.

Casey, 19, was killed and two people were serious injured when the bus rolled about 1pm.

On November 16, 2022, Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey responded to the coroner’s recommendations that a review of the implications, including potential options for consideration of the Queensland Government, was being undertaken.

“Subject to the outcomes of the review, legislation and contractual changes may be required, as well as consultation with stakeholders,” Mr Bailey said.

“These matters are complex and are unable to be implemented within one year as recommended.”

Ms Brown, who had since moved from the Whitsundays to Blackwater because she said it was “too hard” to stay in the region, has questioned why state government was still sitting on the recommendations.

Casey Stinson, 19, had not been wearing a seatbelt when the bus rolled after leaving Shute Harbour Rd. Seatbelts are not mandatory on route buses.

“It’s seven years in February since he died and still nothing has been done,” she said.

“What’s the cost of a life because it’s cost my son his life.

“If we can get these seatbelts on (route) buses at least Casey’s death wasn’t in vain … it’s not such a waste because it’s helping people.”

In early December this publication called on TMR for comment and a spokesman said the department was “continuing to review the coroner’s recommendation”.

“The department will continue to provide reporting updates as required via the Department of Justice and the Attorney-General,” the spokesman said.

Originally published as Mother of Whitsunday bus crash victim Casey Stinson-Brown angry over delay