A woman in her 30s was reportedly hit and killed by a charter bus when she was crossing the street Tuesday morning in the Westlake area of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Times reports. The article states that the woman, who has not yet been identified, entered a crosswalk at the intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and New Hampshire Avenue, when she was hit by the bus.
Witnesses describe the charter bus as a yellow bus that looks very much like a school bus. The driver of the bus was reportedly trying to turn on New Hampshire from Wilshire. No one else was injured as a result of the bus accident and police are still looking into what caused the fatal accident, the Times reports. Officials have not yet released the name of the bus driver or the bus company either. No one has been arrested or cited yet.
Our hearts and prayers go out to the family of the young woman who was killed in this horrible crash. We hope investigators look into what went wrong, what caused the driver to make the turn without seeing the woman who was apparently walking on a marked crosswalk. Was the driver distracted? Was alcohol or drugs involved? Was there a mechanical problem with the bus where the driver couldn’t stop the bus in time? Was there a dangerous condition at that intersection, which prevented the bus driver from getting a good look at pedestrians or other motorists on that road?
These are some of the questions that need to be asked while investigating this case. The family of the victim, however, would be well-advised to retain the services of an experienced and knowledgeable personal injury attorney who will delve into all these issues and help pinpoint who caused the accident and who is responsible for the fatality. A good attorney would also look into the bus driver’s driving record and history.
If the bus driver is found to be at fault, then the charter bus company could be held liable for the death of the woman because the driver was acting in the capacity of an employee of the charter company.
Got a question about a pedestrian accident or bus accident? Call us today for your free and confidential consultation.