BUS DRIVER PUT ON PAID LEAVE; WORKER WILL STAY OFF DUTY UNTIL CRASH PROBE IS COMPLETE.

Byline: Mary Schubert Daily News Staff Writer

The Santa Clarita Transit bus driver involved in a fiery weekend crash on State Highway 126 has been put on paid leave until the California Highway Patrol completes its investigation, officials said Tuesday.

Robert Taylor, 41, of Canyon Country, is a former truck driver who has worked for the city bus line for seven months and has no accidents on his performance record, officials said.

``He's very conscientious and is a good employee,'' said Bob Murphy, transit coordinator for the Department of Transportation and Engineering.

However, Taylor could face penalties, including suspension without pay or termination, if found to be negligent or at fault, Murphy said.

Taylor was driving southbound on Chiquito Canyon Road from Val Verde to Santa Clarita about 4 p.m. Saturday and was turning left onto the recently widened Highway 126 when he hit a westbound vehicle driven by Vicky Eyre, of Fillmore, officials said.

``Preliminary reports show that the bus driver was in violation of failing to yield the right-of-way prior to making a left turn,'' said California Highway Patrol Officer Doug Sweeney.

Six passengers were aboard Taylor's bus, but none was injured.

Eyre, 42, who was driving a 1992 Jeep Wrangler, suffered moderate injuries. She was treated at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital.

Santa Clarita Transit drivers have complained about the Chiquito Canyon/Highway 126 intersection, one of the few cross streets on the rural thoroughfare. The speed of cross traffic has increased since the highway was widened to four lanes, Murphy said.

``Since the road has been improved, the speed has gotten worse.The comments people always make is: `Boy, people really fly on the 126,' '' he said. ``It was made wider and the road is more level. You can engineer a road, but you can't control people's actions.''

Taylor told CHP officers about 100 yards separated the Jeep and his bus when he began to make his turn.

``There is no hard and fast rule that the oncoming car must be X number of feet away,'' Murphy said. ``The issue here is that the driver had to make a judgment.''

Taylor drove the Val Verde route on Saturdays and Sundays, and was assigned to a different route in the Santa Clarita Valley his other days on duty, Murphy said.

Highway 126 and Chiquito Canyon Road are the most direct routes to Val Verde, meaning such left turns are necessary on the leg of the trip heading to Santa Clarita, Murphy said.

A bridge under construction may provide an alternate route to Val Verde by the fall. Murphy said that Santa Clarita Transit may use Commerce Center Drive and Hasley Canyon Road once the bridge is completed, perhaps by October.

Murphy said that Santa Clarita Transit buses were involved in 13 crashes with damage exceeding $500 between July 1997 and June 1998, the most recent figures available. During that time, the bus fleet traveled more than 1.9 million miles, he said.

The bus sustained body damage and is being repaired. Murphy said Santa Clarita Transit's 33 other buses are sufficient to cover all its routes.

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MAP: Site of crash