Death driver keeps job
A BUS driver whose negligent driving caused the death of a pedestrian in Hobart in 2016 will be able to keep his job.
Stephen Murray Hartstonge, 62, appeared in the Hobart Magistrates Court yesterday where his restricted licence application was approved by Magistrate Chris Webster.
The restricted licence will enable him to drive between his Cygnet home and the Woodbridge bus terminus, and to drive buses in the course of his work at Metro Tasmania.
In a statement, a Metro Tasmania spokesman said Hartstonge was appropriately qualified to drive a bus. “Safety is at the forefront of our business and we have a sustained focus on workforce development and safe driving practices to ensure we continue to prioritise the safety of all employees, customers, and other road users,” the spokesman said.
“Mr Hartstonge remains appropriately qualified to operate a bus and will therefore continue to perform his role, supported by ongoing training.”
Mr Webster found Hartstonge guilty in March of caus- ing the death of Wendy Evans, an off-duty Queensland Police officer, by negligent driving on July 22, 2016.
The court heard Hartstonge was driving a Metro bus when he stopped at a red traffic light on Macquarie St about 6pm, waiting to turn right into Campbell St. Hartstonge did not see Ms Evans, who was crossing Campbell St.
Mr Webster sentenced Hartstonge to three months in prison, wholly suspended, and disqualified him from driving for two years. The driving disqualification was suspended until today, for the restricted licence application to be heard.
Hartstonge told the court he returned to driving buses for Metro three or four months after Ms Evans was killed.
He said he drove with a “buddy driver” at first, and he and other Metro drivers were required to take part in safety training after the crash.
“Then I commenced duties again, exactly the same duties as the night I ran Wendy over,” he said. Prosecutor Anna Norton opposed the restricted licence, saying death by negligent driving was a serious offence and “public interest warrants that this application be dismissed”.
Mr Webster previously described Hartstonge’s negligence as significant but at the lowest end of the scale of offending for causing death by dangerous driving. He also said he was confident in Metro’s ability to ensure its drivers were responsible.