A bus driver was cleared of seriously injuring a pedestrian, who, the court concluded, ran on to the road without keeping a proper lookout.

Massimo Bonello, 40, was found not guilty of driving negligently and dangerously and seriously injuring a Ukrainian woman in St Paul’s Bay on December 2, 2008. He was also acquitted of driving without insurance cover, but fined €150 for driving without a licence.

Mr Bonello testified before Magistrate Audrey Demicoli that while driving a public bus on route 49 in St Paul’s Bay towards Buġibba square he suddenly heard a loud noise. It was about 8.30am.

He said he saw a woman rush towards the bus stop across the road and run straight into his moving bus. Mr Bonello said he was driving at a normal speed and the woman had not used the zebra crossing situated just a short distance away.

He was driving at a normal speed and the woman just crossed the road

The woman said she was on her way to work and as she was crossing the road to get to the bus stop she turned to see whether there was traffic and at that point felt something hit her and lost consciousness.

She suffered head injuries and spent more than 17 days in hospital. She suffers from epilepsy as a result of injuries to her brain.

Several people who were on the bus at the time said the driver was driving at a normal speed and the woman just crossed the road.

Magistrate Demicoli said it had not been proven that Mr Bonello was driving negligently or dangerously. The accident was caused by the negligent manner in which the woman crossed the road, she ruled.

Police Inspector Gabriel Micallef prosecuted.