[ad_1]
SUPPLIED
Hannah Francis, 11, died in a bus accident on Mount Ruapehu in July 2018.
A mechanic who inspected a bus involved in a fatal accident says its auxiliary switch could have been accidentally hit, causing the air supply to the brakes to drain.
The investigation into the death of West Auckland girl Hannah Teresa Francis continued before Coroner Brigitte Windley in Auckland on Wednesday.
Hannah died after a Ruapehu Alpine Lifts (RAL) bus capsized on Mount Ruapehu on July 28, 2018.
The Mitsubishi Fuso bus, carrying 31 passengers, passed at the 9-kilometer mark on Ōhakune Mountain Rd, which travels 17 km up Mount Ruapehu to Tūroa.
READ MORE:
* Mt Ruapehu Accident Investigation: There is no ‘just cause’ to install seat belts on buses
* Mt Ruapehu bus accident investigation: buses make 11 trips a day, says former driver
* Investigation of bus accident in Ruapehu: the coroner orders the bus company to deliver an internal report
* Mt Ruapehu bus accident investigation: decision not to charge driver ‘was not lightly’
Many experts have concluded that the driver error is the probable cause of the accident.
The driver, who has name suppression, asked Michael Brown of Transport Specifications Ltd to inspect the bus.
Supplied
Hannah Francis, pictured with her dad Matthew Francis, her stepmother Christina Francis, and her stepbrothers Joshua and Caleb Dukeson.
Brown initially inspected the vehicle on August 17, 2018 and identified “several factors” that required further investigation.
An in-depth investigation was conducted on August 30.
Even though police mechanics and other experts found no mechanical faults on the bus during their inspections, Brown said he found faults that meant the bus was non-compliant.
Brown found that the auxiliary switch, which drained the air supply to the brakes when activated, made the entire brake system out of compliance with the heavy brake law.
In his evidence, Brown said the inadvertent switch was a possible cause of the accident. In the opinion of Transport Specifications Ltd, the switch could have accidentally hit around the 11-kilometer mark up the mountain, draining the air supply to the brake system.
He said the only evidence against this theory was the location of the switch and the fact that the switch was in the off position.
The topic of change has been widely discussed during the research.
Earlier, attorney assisting coroner David Boldt explained that evidence showed there was still air in the tank that would have been drained if the switch had been accidentally turned on.
This information was new to Inspector Neil Forlong, who said that his decision not to charge anyone in connection with the accident could have been different if he had had that information at the time.
Brown said that, in his opinion, the bus was not appropriate for commercial use in an alpine setting.
He said this was due to the age of the vehicle and that it was “on the verge of being classified as an antique vehicle.”
He said the bus also had incorrect tires that were not designed for use in a mountain environment.
Earlier Wednesday, another mechanic, David Taylor, said he did not find any mechanical problems with the bus when he inspected it on August 1, 2018.
He observed a lot of damage to the bus, including to its front bumper, front panels, windshield wipers, mirrors, windshield, roof, interior, and emergency exit doors.
He also examined the discoloration of the brakes, which suggested they had been very hot.
When questioned by the driver’s attorney, Olivia Lund, Taylor was asked if he thought the bus was capable of doing the job it had.
She cited evidence from former Ruapehu Alpine Lifts driver Raymond Lewis, who said the buses were old and “better suited for taking city school trips than going up and down the mountain.”
Taylor said he had a lot of experience with that model of bus and that it seemed suitable for the job.
However, it would need to have all up-to-date maintenance and the driver would need to adhere to speed advisories and be aware of the gears to be in when descending the mountain.
“If everything is up to date and the driver sticks to what he was told, yes, he could. But there is not much room for maneuver.
“You don’t have much support if things go wrong.”
The investigation continues.
