MEDIA RELEASE - 16 April 2008
Egypt bus victims seek answers at Inquest
At today’s Coronial Inquest, victims of the bus
crash in Egypt on 10 January 2006 will be seeking answers as to the cause of the
crash and possible ways in which it could have been prevented, Maurice
Blackburn Chairman, Bernard Murphy said.
Six people (5
Victorians and 1 Queenslander) were killed in the crash and approximately 30
were injured when their bus lost control and flipped on a major highway near the
Egyptian capital of Cairo. Maurice Blackburn will be representing 3
of the deceased’s families and partners at today’s Inquest.
The crash occurred on tour, organised by a Victorian tour company working in conjunction with an Egyptian tour company. The head of the Victorian tour company went on the tour.
“The evidence the victims will be presenting is that driver fatigue played a significant role in this crash. At the time of the crash the driver had been driving for approximately 16 hours with little or no rest, and the two previous days were also very long days with little rest for the driver. A passenger on the bus witnessed the drivers head nodding forward in a manner consistent with him falling asleep at the wheel.”
“We hope that today’s Inquest will provide our clients, the families and partners of the deceased and those injured, with some real answers about the cause of the crash and the capacity of the tour companies to have prevented it from occurring.
“There is a clear need for the regulation of Victorian tour operators, who organise tours and services for Australians overseas, in order that as safe a travel environment as possible is provided.” Mr. Murphy said.
Media Information:
The Inquest is scheduled to be
heard from Wednesday 16 April 2008 to Friday 18 April 2008 at Coroners
Court, 57 – 82 Kavanagh Street Southbank from 10am.
Bernard Murphy will be available to speak to the media outside the Coroner’s Court prior to the hearing at 9.30am.
For more information please contact Meaghan
Telford on 0437 586 093
