Open-Top Bus Tragedy: Transport Malta Will Fight Tooth And Nail Against Compensating Victims And Heirs
Transport Malta will be fighting tooth and nail against dishing out any compensation to the victims of the horrific open-top double-decker bus accident that left two tourists dead and countless more injured last year.
In a parliamentary question submitted by PN MP Robert Arrigo, Transport Minister Ian Borg revealed that Transport Malta will be contesting any sort of responsibility and has already filed legal documents to counter any liability claim.
On 9th April 2018, an open-top double-decker bus hit low-lying tree branches in Żurrieq, killing two instantly while leaving seven others critically injured. Close to 50 people were treated for minor injuries.
However, despite some losing limbs, one thing the statement makes clear is that over a year and a half later, people involved in the accident remain without any compensation.
The 24-year-old bus driver was arrested. However, it appears that he is yet to be charged with any crime, with the incident still tied down in a magisterial inquiry. He was reported to have been working his first shift since returning to the job on the day of the accident.
Source: Malta Today
Transport Malta and City Sightseeing’s blame game:
The bus formed part of the popular City Sightseeing service heading by the Fortel Group, the company behind the Fortina Hotel. In a judicial protest submitted in September 2018, City Sightseeing Malta Ltd blamed the fatal tragedy on Transport Malta.
The lawyer representing City Sightseeing, Alessia Zammit McKeon, listed several laws and guidelines issued by Transport Malta and EU road safety organisations which were not observed by the transport regulator.
She put forward that Transport Malta was obliged to perform regular road audits every three to five years and act on any transgression, while also appointing a surveillance authority aimed at observing the public’s safety.
Transport Malta, in turn, placed the blame on the driver.
However, the heirs of Elisaveta Danielova Avdala, one of the two people who died in the crash, called on both TM and City Sightseeing to pay compensation.
The City Sightseeing parent company, who also owns Captain Morgan, has recently launched a bid to now have a similar hop-on-hop-off maritime service, applying for a jetty in the public domain.
Fortina has already announced a €20 million investment into the concept at an event attended by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, despite the tender for the service (which formed part of this year’s budget) yet to be issued.
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