Driver guilty after woman killed in CBD bus crash

The bus driver who killed a young woman during afternoon rush hour was found guilty of reckless driving causing death.

Tia Cameron, 18, was crashed into a council bus and pinned against a building in Brisbane’s CBD just after 5pm on March 8, 2024.

Lindsay Francis Selby, 70, pleaded not guilty in the Brisbane Magistrates Court to causing death by driving without due care and attention.

Judge Aaron Simpson announced his decision on Thursday, following Selby’s one-day hearing in September.

“I find you guilty,” said Mr. Simpson.

Ms Cameron’s family wept in court after Mr Simpson said he would adjourn the court later on Thursday before reading lengthy reasons for his decision.

Selby made no visible reaction and continued to stare ahead.

Mr Simpson had previously heard conflicting arguments about whether Selby was criminally reckless or involved in a tragic accident.

Defense attorney Saul Holt said the prosecution failed to prove Selby’s claim that he did not brake because he did not see a black SUV in front of him as he turned downhill.

“We’ll never know why he couldn’t brake,” Mr Holt said.

Selby told police after the crash that he thought he was “going to hit four lanes of traffic.”

“I was trying to stop, but it wouldn’t stop,” Selby said.

“I turned the steering wheel to the left and headed towards the building. Unfortunately, there was someone in my path that I could not see.”

Both the prosecution and defense agreed that Selby had turned onto a busy street and did not apply his brakes.

Selby veered left before mounting a footpath at 13 mph and hitting multiple pedestrians.

Mr Simpson was shown CCTV footage of Selby turning the bus at a junction from Brisbane Central railway station before veering onto the footpath.

In the video taken from the security camera inside the bus, Selby was seen using the steering wheel with one hand a few seconds before the accident.

Prosecutor Susan Hedge has previously said an innocent accident was not the only explanation for Ms Cameron’s death.

“The other explanation was that he was careless. People make mistakes. People make mistakes,” he said.

Mr Simpson heard last month that Selby should be found guilty because his behavior behind the wheel as a professional driver fell below reasonable standards.

There was no jury and Mr Simpson decided.