Woman Hit by FRED Bus, Driver Charged

A FRED driver was charged Wednesday after he struck a passenger who had exited the bus.

"Just prior to 2 p.m., emergency personnel responded to the 900 block of Caroline Street near the intersection of William Street for an accident involving a pedestrian," police spokesperson Natatia Bledsoe said.   The investigation revealed that a female passenger had just disembarked from a FRED bus and was in the process of removing her bicycle from the rack on the front of the bus when the bus driver started to pull forward.  

The woman, a city resident in her 50s, was unable to get out of the path of the bus and was struck by the front fender and fell to the pavement.  The victim was transported to the hospital by ambulance with non life-threatening injuries.   The bicycle was run over and destroyed.

The bus driver remained on the scene and called for help.  Charles Thornton, 70, of Ruther Glen was charged under city code Sec. 58-16. Failure to give full time and attention:

No person shall operate a motor vehicle upon the streets of the city without giving full time and attention to the operation of the vehicle. Any person violating this section shall be guilty of a traffic infraction and punished by a fine of not more than $100.00.