Double-decker's brakes, steering 'responsive' after crash, court told

The OC Transpo mechanic who helped investigators collect data from the onboard computer of the bus involved in the fatal 2019 crash at Westboro station told court this week that thedouble-decker's brakes and steering remained"responsive"after the collision.

Martin Antoine, a supervisor at OC Transpo's Industrial Avenue depot, said he was called to the city's Swansea Public Works Garage on Jan. 31, 2019, to help move the bus as part of the police investigation.

Antoine testified Wednesday and Thursdayin the judge-only trial of bus driver Aissatou Diallo, 44, who has pleaded not guilty to 38 dangerous driving charges including three charges of dangerous driving causing death.

• OC Transpo driver, supervisor grilled on brake training

During their opening statement, the Crown saidthe double-decker had no mechanical issues prior to the crash on Jan. 11, 2019, and saidDiallohad failed to steer or brake properly to avoid striking the bus shelter. Three passengers died in the crash, and many more were injured.

Antoine, a veteran withinOC Transpo's vehicle maintenance department, said he drove the double-deckertwice on Jan. 31, from a secure vehicle bay on the east side of the complex to the fire department service area and back.

Antoine told court the vehicle's brakes, steering and hand brakewere all "responsive" at that time, with no apparent mechanical problems.

He testified that before driving the bus, he checked that its wheels were secure and tires fully inflated.He said the dashboard gauges showed the vehicle's air brakes had adequatepressure.

In reviewing the data downloaded from the onboard computer system, Antoine said a fault was detected because the power to the bus hadn't been cut using the usual shutdown sequence. He said he'd instructed investigators to do that the day after the crash so the bus could be towed from Westboro station.

The Crown also presented Antoine with measurements taken by an Ontario Provincial Police investigatorand the computer systemmonitoring wear on the vehicle's braking system.

Antoine said those indicators suggested the braking system was in working order and wasn't in immediate need of repair or replacement.

Assistant Crown attorney Dallas Mack also reviewed OC Transpo's maintenance schedule, including work orders from two inspections of the bus performed in March and August 2019.

OC Transpo buses are also scheduled for preventative maintenance on a 60-day cycle, and aren't assigned to drivers if there are outstanding work orders, Antoine told court.

Antoine also explained that buses are outfitted with onboard computers that OC Transpo monitorsremotely to indicate when a fault alarm has been triggered in real time.

Earlier Wednesday, court heard from Allan Smith, the driver who was assigned to double-decker 8155 on the morning of the crash. Smith said he had found "no issues" when he performedhis dailyinspection.

The trial is expected to resume with Antoine's cross-examination Monday.