A Ballarat bus driver who negligently drove into a low bridge in Melbourne, seriously injuring six passengers, has been jailed for more than five years.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Family members and loved ones of Ballarat bus driver Jack Aston, 55, wept as he was sentenced in the County Court on Monday.
The Gold Bus driver displayed "flagrant inattention" when he crashed into the Montague Street bridge in February 2016, failing to notice any warning signs or the upcoming bridge.
In October, a jury found him guilty of six counts of negligently causing serious injury.
Aston himself was seriously injured in the crash and wore a neck brace subsequently.
Six of his 14 passengers suffered a range of serious injuries including spine fractures, glass particles in the face, scalp injuries and neck fractures.
"Three of your passengers saw the bridge immediately prior to the collision," Judge Bill Stuart said.
"How you didn't was astonishing."
Aston was jailed for five years and three months, with a minimum of two-and-a- half years.
"Why it was that you were so grossly inattentive to your obligations is unknown to me," Judge Stuart said.
He dismissed the defence's claim Aston was confused and unfamiliar with the area.
"Any driver unfamiliar with the road would be expected to be ever-more vigilant," he said.
"This is a bridge ... that is very low, indeed the lowest in the metropolitan network.
"But that belies the fact that the bridge itself has a clear appearance of being a low bridge.
"I don't know how you could have possibly been confused."
Judge Stuart acknowledged Aston was remorseful and had excellent rehabilitation prospects.
As Aston was removed from the court, his family and loved ones wept and cried out to him: "love you dad", "we're always here for you Jack" and "you're a good man".
