A Greyhound bus driver charged over a devastating highway crash that claimed three lives has been acquitted by a jury in Townsville District Court. On Thursday, the jury delivered a verdict of not guilty for 53-year-old Peter Cafe, who had faced charges of dangerous driving causing death.
Prosecution case
Prosecutors alleged that Cafe, an experienced driver, knowingly operated the coach while fatigued when it collided with a Toyota LandCruiser towing a caravan on the Bruce Highway near Gumlu, south of Townsville, on June 30, 2024. The collision resulted in the deaths of a 56-year-old Townsville woman and two German tourists, aged 21 and 33.
Injuries and emergency response
More than 30 passengers were aboard the bus at the time, with dozens sustaining injuries in the catastrophic crash. Emergency crews described confronting scenes along the major highway as paramedics treated 27 individuals. Then-Premier Steven Miles remarked that first responders encountered “just awful scenes.” Two young men, aged 23 and 24, were airlifted to Townsville University Hospital in critical condition.
Police charged Cafe nearly two months after the fatal incident. The verdict brings closure to a case that has drawn significant public attention, highlighting issues of driver fatigue and road safety on Australia’s highways.
