The police on Wednesday spoke to the driver of the tourist bus that was involved in a fatal accident on Monday, sources said.
Before being questioned, the driver was subjected to a psychological examination by police to ensure he was in a sound state of mind.
“After going through that experience, the police wanted to ensure he was in the right state of mind before being asked for details about what had happened. Anyone would have been shaken after an experience like that,” the sources said.
They said the driver, 24, cooperated with the investigators though details of his account were not available.
It was unlikely that charges would be pressed against anybody any time soon, also because the police would probably prefer to await the outcome of the ongoing magisterial inquiry by Magistrate Monica Vella.
Driver was subjected to a psychological examination
About seven of them, including three children, were still being treated in hospital at the time of writing. Four of them were in critical condition.
Mr de Vrieze’s wife, Hilde, was seated next to him on the bus when it hit a tree – possibly a bough – on Valletta Street, Żurrieq. She escaped unharmed.
The couple arrived on April 4, their arrival having been delayed by a day as they were stuck in Charleroi airport because of a computer failure at Eurocontrol, according to the Belgian press. They were due to spend a week on the island and the bus tour was among their first activities here.
Tour operators said yesterday said it was “back to business as usual”.
“Tours continue and we are going through the same routes we have always done. The take-up is normal,” one bus tour operator said.
About 15 tourist buses every day use the route where the fatal accident occurred.