A bus driver has been fined €5,000 following a head-on collision in which a speeding motorist died.

Nazzareno Vassallo, 46, was driving his bus into Triq it-Tempesta, Qrendi, when it collided with a Peugeot driven by Ernest Micallef.

Mr Micallef fractured his skull and died shortly after the accident at 10.15pm on January 3, 2010.

Magistrate Carol Peralta heard Mr Vassallo was driving to the centre of Qrendi and needed to cross lanes on the Qrendi bypass, when the two vehicles collided.

Court-appointed expert Richard Aquilina apportioned blame to both drivers, given that the brake marks of the dead man’s car stretched over 14.33 metres.

Another court expert, Joe Mifsud, noted driving conditions that night were close to ideal: dry with clear visibility on a straight road that was in good condition.

Mr Vassallo testified that, at the moment of impact, the bus was stationary and partially protruding into the opposite lane.

Magistrate Peralta noted that Mr Micallef had a very good view of the road when the collision happened.

He said an experienced motorist such as Mr Vassallo should have been far more prudent when driving and because of his shortcomings, a person had lost his life.

The magistrate concluded the victim had also contributed to the accident, adding a prison term was not the solution. Apart from the fine, the court ordered Mr Vassallo to pay half of the damages caused.