Bicyclist Struck by Bus After Running Red Light

By Tom Bolton, Noozhawk Executive Editor | @tombol | Published on 03.15.2013 7:23 p.m.

A bicyclist was hospitalized Friday after she ran a red light and was struck by a bus at a busy intersection, according to the Santa Maria Police Department.

Ana Bustillos, 42, of Santa Maria, was riding westbound on Betteravia Road at about 1:45 p.m. when she crossed the northbound lanes of Broadway on the south side of the intersection, and was hit by a SMAT bus, said Sgt. Jesus C. Valle.

There were no passengers on the bus, driven by Andrea Marquis, 44, of Santa Maria, Valle said.

Bustillos was treated at the scene by paramedics, then transported to Marian Regional Medical Center, Valle said.

“The cause of the accident was determined to be the bicyclist (Bustillo) crossing against a red light,” Valle said.

Marquis was not injured and was released from the scene, Valle said.

— Noozhawk executive editor Tom Bolton can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.

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» interloper on 03.16.13 @ 12:22 AM

I am surprised that 14noscams, riddler, locke, segal, etc haven’t jumped on the bus driver, or ‘bike crusher’. There needs to be a investigation on these out of control bus drivers who collide with everyone over who runs a red light…

» Art on 03.16.13 @ 10:16 AM

Although this happened in Santa Maria, the same could happen in Santa Barbara. The City encourages more bicycle riding as one form of “alternative transportation.” But I’ve observed that the majority of the bicycle riders in SB frequently break do things like this instance of riding through red lights. This and other frequent violations make some bicyclists prone to get hurt at some point.

» padrebaker on 03.16.13 @ 10:50 AM

Where is the Like button? Good comment, Interloper…

» Wally Moon on 03.16.13 @ 03:03 PM

I am all for bike riders, but they need to obey the traffic laws. What gives them the right to run lights? It endangers all of us.

Once, in a different city, I pulled out carefully from a restaurant and a bike rider crashed into the side of my car and flew over it because he was speeding down the sidewalk. fortunately he wasn’t badly hurt. The police gave HIM a ticket!

» John Locke on 03.16.13 @ 04:48 PM

Nonsense, interloper. There are a significant number of bicyclists who operate under the mistaken belief that traffic laws do not apply to them, and so freely run red lights, stop signs, crosswalks, don’t signal turns. etc. They are supposed to SHARE the road, but seem to think they OWN the road. Yes, there are accidents where the car is at fault but I’m surprised that more bicyclists are not injured through their own scofflaw stupidity.

» John Q on 03.16.13 @ 07:44 PM

Serves her right. I see bike riders so many times busting red lights. They whine about sharing the road yet so many don’t follow the rules.

» John_Adams on 03.16.13 @ 11:10 PM

This definitely proves that Cars Are Basic and should be the only choice.

» John Locke on 03.17.13 @ 04:29 PM

No, it just demonstrates that even the environmentally correct bicyclist is not immune to the immutable laws of Physics.