DARTS driver is the city’s latest pedestrian fatality
Police say a 75-year-old woman was arrested at the scene; she has since been released
Hamilton police say the city’s 10th pedestrian fatality of the year is a 49-year-old DARTS bus driver.
In a news release Friday morning, police said the Hamilton woman was getting ready to pick up a passenger in the area of Main Street West and Locke Street South just after 2 p.m. on Thursday.
At that time, a 75-year-old woman driving a 2012 Honda Civic was headed east on Main approaching Locke. Police said the driver then left the roadway, colliding with a building and hitting the bus driver as she was exiting her vehicle.
The DARTS driver was transported to hospital without vital signs and later died of her injuries.
Police will not be releasing the identity of the victim “at the request of her family,” according to Det. Const. Wes Wilson of the collision reconstruction unit.
Speaking to The Spectator on Friday morning, the president of CUPE 5167 — which represents DARTS workers — said the driver had been with the organization for roughly 20 years.
Jay Hunter also noted she had celebrated her birthday just a day before the crash.
“It’s been a very traumatic experience for the other drivers,” he said. “You go to work expecting to come home and the reality of that is very difficult for somebody that operates a vehicle day in and day out.”
In a statement to The Spectator, DARTS said the worker was a “valued member” of the non-profit organization and will be missed by her colleagues.
“She touched the lives of many passengers and coworkers and the organization is grieving her loss,” read the statement. “We send our condolences to her family and loved ones.”
Hunter added that the union had met with drivers to offer support and counselling as they were coming in for their shifts Friday morning.
“They’re a very tight-knight group, and they’re very supportive of each other,” he said. “It’s very sad.”
Police said the 75-year-old driver of the Civic was arrested at the scene and later released pending further investigation. She was not impaired at the time of the crash and was not injured, according to police.
Const. Indy Bharaj told The Spectator Friday morning the vehicle involved in the crash has been seized for a “mechanical inspection” and no charges have been laid at this time.
According to Wilson, speed or a mechanical issue with the vehicle have not been ruled out as a possible cause of the crash. However, investigators have determined that a medical condition was not at play in the incident.
A heavily damaged, black, fourdoor sedan was visible at the scene Thursday afternoon. One of its wheels had been ripped off and its front bumper was mangled.
A DARTS transit bus with a tornoff door was at the side of the road near the sedan, and the brickwork on a nearby porch also appeared to have been damaged. DARTS executive director Mark Mindorff said there were no passengers on the bus at the time of the collision.
Richard Newsome, who witnessed the collision while walking his dog, likened the crash to a “tornado.” On Friday afternoon, flowers had been laid in front of the building where the crash took place. A bouquet of artificial flowers as well as sympathy card had also been tapped to nearby pole.
In an email to The Spectator, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Labour said they were notified of the fatal crash Thursday afternoon and two inspectors were assigned to investigate.
The spokesperson said it was later determined that the crash was not considered a workplace fatality under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The collision reconstruction unit has taken over the investigation.
There have been 10 pedestrian deaths in Hamilton so far this year, including one involving a forklift at a workplace, making 2022 the worst year for pedestrian deaths in the city in a decade and already eclipsing 2021’s death toll of nine.
Anyone with information regarding Thursday’s crash is asked to contact Det. Const. Steve Cruickshanks by calling 905-546-4755. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit tips at crimestoppershamilton.com.