Witnesses said a car slammed into the bus, but the driver was more concerned about what was in his backpack, despite being badly injured.
A backpack allegedly stuffed with cash and drugs was seized after the Mazda collided with the Transperth bus on the corner of Elderberry and Berrigan Drive in South Lake just before 7pm on Sunday.
Witnesses claimed the driver, in his 30s, pleaded with passengers to take cash before police arrived.
Officers said they seized $40,000 along with illegal drugs.
“There were stacks of green cash and then there were bags of white powder,” witness Ella said.
“They were just going through it all and they were like just getting stacks and stacks out of the car and putting in brown paper bags.”
According to witnesses, the driver of the car indicated to turn, but instead continued straight ahead, T-boning the bus.
The police investigation is ongoing.
The driver spent the night in the Royal Perth Hospital.
