Bus union says Winnipeg driver distraught over fatal accident
Driver, who had 2 years of experience behind the wheel prior to incident, to receive counseling
The union representing a city transit bus driver involved in a fatal collision said the man is distraught over what happened Tuesday morning
An elderly woman died after she was hit by a transit bus just after 9 a.m. It happened at the Keewatin Street and Burrows Avenue intersection, which was then closed until about 3 p.m. while police investigated the scene.
Several people in the area witnessed the scene unfold. One witness said the bus was turning onto Burrows when it hit the woman, who was crossing Keewatin at the time.
"I saw a woman crossing the street, and it was a matter of seconds," said Sean Marginet. "She stepped aside the bus, impacted with the side of the vehicle and within moments she was underneath."
Driver to receive counseling, says union
"Typically what happens is we've got a critical incident stress management team and they'll talk the operator through this," said John Callahan with the Amalgamated Transit union
Callahan said the incident is tragic for the driver, the victim and her family.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of that poor woman, but at the same time the operator too,' said Callahan. "It's a really tough thing to deal with."
Callahan said the driver, who has two years of experience behind the wheel, will receive help from a counsellor.
"Earlier they were saying he was just a basket case," said Callahan. "It's not anything that anyone wants to deal with."
Video footage recorded on the bus involved in the incident will be turned over to investigators, Callahan said.
On top of the police investigation, Winnipeg Transit will hold an adjudication hearing to determine what happened and how to prevent it from happening again.
"It's not just about fault, it's about preventability," said Callahan. "Transit operators are held to a higher standard because they are professional drivers. So, it's not just a case of who's at fault. It's always a case of 'could it have been prevented?'"