Bus driver fined over fatal incident

Nazzareno Vassallo, 45 of Qrendi was fined €5,000 and ordered to pay half the damages caused to a route bus and a private vehicle in a road accident in 2010, which claimed the life of Ernest Micallef.

On 3 January 2010, at around 10:15pm, Vassallo was behind the steering wheel of a route bus driving along Triq it-Tempesta, Qrendi also known as the Qrendi by-pass.

The accused was attempting to drive across the main road and turn into a secondary road leading to Qrendi centre, while at the same time, Ernest Micallef was driving his Peugeot in the opposite direction.

Micallef lost his life due to a fractured skull and the two vehicles incurred extensive damages.

During an onsite inquiry, Vassallo had claimed that he had stopped the bus and operated the indicators when a car crashed 'head on' into him.

Upon impact the bus was battered and Vassallo claimed that Micallef was driving at excessive speed.

Court expert Joseph Zammit, told the court that the Peugeot brake marks found on site measured 14.33 meters. The impact happened with the front side of the bus.

Another court expert, Dr Joseph Mifsud, attributed the responsibility of the accident to both drivers. Vassallo had placed his bus half way across a main road blocking the opposite carriageway.

Contrary to what the accused had told investigators, the bus was not at a standstill but was moving. On the other hand Micallef was indeed driving at excessive speed and was unable to stop the car when he saw the bus.

Magistrate Carol Peralta attributed the cause of the accident equally between the accused and the victim. However being a bus driver, Vassallo should have been more cautious and due to his negligence a man lost his life.

The court held that an effective jail term was not the solution, and fined Vassallo €5,000 and ordered him to pay half the damages incurred by the route bus and the Peugeot.