The driver of an Arriva bus which skidded and crashed in Floriana in 2012, leading to over 20 people being injured, has been acquitted by a court.

The 36-year-old driver from Qormi had been charged with causing damage to Portes des Bombes in Floriana, reckless driving, and criminal neglicence which ultimately led to a number of passengers being injured.

10 passengers suffered grievous injuries in the crash, while a further 13 passengers were slightly injured.

In her judgement Magistrate Simone Grech said that 16 passengers had testified and that nearly all of them had said that it was drizzling with rain at the time of the accident, meaning that the road was wet.

Court experts appointed during the magisterial inquiry also found that the tyres did not have the required thread depth and should therefore have never been used on a road-going vehicle.

This was either overlooked or ignored by the mechanics, engineer, and supervisor responsible for the maintenance of the vehicle, the court was told.

The court ruled that the driver had also been driving carefully and that he had actively tried to avoid coming into contact with the Floriana arch head-on.

It was also noted that the bus did not belong to the driver and that he was not responsible for its maintenance – something which fell under the remit of Arriva staff.

Finding no fault in the driver’s actions, he was acquitted of all charges.

Lawyers Stephanie Abela and Vince Micallef appeared for the driver.