Vic man pleads guilty over bus crash death

A man has admitted his role in causing a crowded Melbourne bus to swerve, inadvertently striking and killing an acquaintance.

William Boden, 36, of Bonbeach, has pleaded guilty to reckless conduct endangering life.

Boden tried to force an express bus to pull over to allow he and three friends to get off between stops.

He argued with the driver and kicked open the rear doors, the Victorian County Court heard on Wednesday.

Wayne Hooker, 29, got out when the bus stopped at a red light.

After the lights changed, Boden grabbed the steering wheel to force the moving bus left. It ran over Mr Hooker, who died at the scene.

Boden met Mr Hooker for the first time that day, May 5, 2012.

The four men had consumed a large amount of alcohol while Mr Hooker and Boden also took ecstasy.

Prosecutor Andrew Tinney SC said the charge of reckless conduct endangering life reflected the gravity of Boden's actions but did not punish him for Mr Hooker's death.

He said Boden caused the crowded bus to jolt violently, and could have injured or killed other passengers and road users.

Boden phoned triple-zero straight away but did not disclose his identity to police until his arrest three days later, he said.

Defence counsel Andrew Galbally said his client co-operated with police and pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

Boden used alcohol and drugs because of mental health issues, and he felt intense remorse, Mr Galbally said.

Judge Howard Mason questioned if a short custodial sentence and a community corrections order would allow Boden to get treatment for his issues.

Mr Galbally agreed, but Mr Tinney said such a sentence would not adequately serve as a general deterrent to him or others.

Boden will be sentenced on June 17.