Bus Driver faces vehicular homicide charges for cell phone use
Cleveland OH — Based on cell phone records before and during the accident that killed a pedestrian, Angela Williams, 49, a former bus driver for the RTA in Ohio was indicted on aggravated vehicular homicide, vehicular homicide, and vehicular manslaughter by the Cuyahoga County prosecutor’s office.
On March 14, 2009, Patrick Merrill was legally in a crosswalk in downtown Cleveland as the RTA bus driven by Williams made a left turn and struck Merrill. He died days later as a result of trauma injury.
This was not this bus driver’s first accident involving a pedestrian. Angela Williams had a similar inside on Cleveland’s east side in 2006, although the victim survived in that case. She was fired after that incident; the RTA claimed she didn’t adhere to safety rules but an arbitrator got Williams her job back. The arbitration documents state Williams claimed she didn’t see the pedestrian, partly because of a blind spot she said exits on the left side of NABI buses when making a left turn.
Merrill’s family is clearly happy with the charges:
“The family was very numb when we learned that she was on the cell phone at the time of the accident,” said Tim Merrill, Patrick’s brother.
After Williams struck Merrill, she hung up from her call and called RTA dispatchers, prosecutors said. She told a dispatcher that a man walked into the bus as she was applying the brakes, according to a recording of the call. The dispatcher called 9–1-1.
RTA policy prohibits the use of cell phones and all listening devices by operators.
While we grieve with the Merrill family, we applaud the Cuyahoga County prosecutors in sending this stern message through these charges. Especially for those trusted with public safety, there can be no passes on irresponsible behavior.
We further hope this sends a message to all drivers that the use of cell phones in any capacity without the use of hands-free technology are treading very dangerous ground, not only dangerous for those around them, but dangerous for their own freedom.
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