Family's cries of disbelief as bus driver jailed for Montague Street bridge crash

A bus driver who slammed into the infamous Montague Street bridge in South Melbourne has been sentenced to five years and three months in prison.

Jack Aston, 55, will serve a non-parole period of two years and six months after crashing the Gold Bus Ballarat straight into the low clearance bridge in February 2016.

Family and friends of Aston erupted when the Judge Bill Stuart handed down the sentence, yelling and crying inside the County Court room today.

“Love you dad, love you dad. You’re a good man. You’re the best,” a family member said in the court.

Outside court, a supporter of Aston told reporters the father-of-two was an “innocent bloke who had a clean driving record” and “shouldn’t be where he is.”

The driver had almost one minute and 300 metres to see the bridge.  Despite being unfamiliar with the city’s roads, Aston didn’t use a GPS.

“Three of your passengers saw the bridge before impact. How it is that you didn’t is astonishing,” Judge Stuart said.

“It is your responsibility as driver to observe the road and all its hazards.”

Six of the 14 passengers on board the bus were seriously injured in the crash, while Aston suffered a broken neck.

In October, a unanimous County Court jury found the 55-year-old guilty of criminal negligence.

During the trial, he claimed his bosses should have warned him the infamous bridge was on his route, and was 80 centimetres shorter than his 3.8-metre bus.

Aston appeared to have difficulty breathing during the hearing, at times clutching at his chest.

Judge Stuart admitted it was difficult to sentence him, because unlike other offenders, he was not using drugs, alcohol or speeding at the time of the crash. He also has no prior criminal convictions.

Aston will be eligible for parole in two years and six months.

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