LAWSUIT FILED IN FATAL BUS INCIDENT; SCAT, DRIVER SUED BY VICTIM'S RELATIVES.Byline: Don Holland Daily News Staff Writer Relatives of a 76-year-old woman who was run over and killed by a local transit bus A transit bus (also known as a commuter bus) in the United States is usually operated by an urban-suburban bus line, a governmental public transit agency, or a contractor. A transit bus is normally used on public transit routes. last year have filed a wrongful death The taking of the life of an individual resulting from the willful or negligent act of another person or persons. If a person is killed because of the wrongful conduct of a person or persons, the decedent's heirs and other beneficiaries may file a wrongful death action suit, claiming the bus driver has a history of mishaps and driver's license Noun 1. driver's license - a license authorizing the bearer to drive a motor vehicle driver's licence, driving licence, driving license license, permit, licence - a legal document giving official permission to do something suspensions. In a suit filed in Ventura County Superior Court, relatives of the victim, Patricia Fink, maintain that South Coast Area Transit was negligent and that bus driver Jack Lee Waterson, 44, of Oxnard was not competent to operate the bus. Fink was in a crosswalk at Main Street and Ventura Avenue on May 19, 1998 when she had trouble maneuvering her shopping cart onto the sidewalk, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. police accounts. As the bus turned right at the corner, the midsection mid·sec·tion n. A middle section, especially the midriff of the body. of the bus clipped Fink, knocking her down. Her legs were crushed as the bus rolled over her. ``Waterson had a prior history of vehicle accidents, driver's license suspensions and at least on the date in question, did operate said bus with gross recklessness,'' said the suit filed Monday. Attorney Brian Osborne said an initial investigation indicates Waterson's driver's license had been suspended for failure to report an off-duty traffic accident and for not having insurance. A SCAT official declined to comment on the matter. Waterson, who is charged with vehicular manslaughter vehicular manslaughter n. the crime of causing the death of a human being due to illegal driving of an automobile, including gross negligence, drunk driving, reckless driving, or speeding. , could not be reached for comment. Waterson told police he had been on the job for 11 years at the time that the accident occurred, according to police accounts. Blood tests showed no evidence of drugs or alcohol in his system. Some passengers told police that they saw Fink and yelled to Waterson, who apparently did not hear the warnings, according to police accounts. ``(Fink) had made it all the way to the far side of the intersection,'' Osborne said. ``She had trouble apparently getting her cart up the curb, and I believe Mr. Waterson never saw her. . . . I think he just wasn't paying attention Noun 1. paying attention - paying particular notice (as to children or helpless people); "his attentiveness to her wishes"; "he spends without heed to the consequences" attentiveness, heed, regard .'' The suit seeks unspecified damages for Fink's medical and burial expenses. The case, if it goes to trial, could be heard next year. |
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