New details emerged Friday about the circumstances of a bus crash in downtown Santa Barbara that killed one woman and critically injured another earlier this week.
An eastbound Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District bus veered off West Figueroa Street onto the sidewalk and into a bus bench, killing 67-year-old Eve Debra Johnson of Santa Barbara and critically injuring a 75-year-old woman, according to Santa Barbara Police Department spokesman Anthony Wagner.
The collision occurred at about 2:20 p.m. Wednesday just east of Chapala Street, near the MTD Transit Center.
Both Johnson and the other victim were sitting on the bench waiting for a bus at the time of the crash, Wagner confirmed.
He said the 75-year-old woman, whose name has not been released, suffered injuries to both legs. Details on her condition were not available Friday. Police originally said the injured person was a man, but revised that on Friday.
Other people gathered at the bus stop escaped injury, Wagner added.
At least two people on the bus were taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries sustained in the crash, and several others declined medical treatment. Their names have not been released.
The preliminary investigation has revealed that the bus was traveling at 5-10 mph, and was due to stop to pick up passengers, Wagner said.
Police have interviewed the female bus driver, whose name has not been released. Police also have impounded the bus as part of the investigation.
The investigation was continuing Friday, and Wagner said he could not comment on whether the driver would be cited or face criminal charges.
Speculation about possible causes for the crash includes driver error and mechanical failure, but Wagner said he could not comment.
“The investigation remains ongoing,” he said. “Because of the complexity of evidence, data forensics and working with allied investigative agencies, we cannot forecast a completion date … at this time.”
The Police Department has reached out to the California Highway Patrol, which has expertise in bus crashes, for assistance in the investigation.
Authorities have not yet decided whether to conduct a reconstruction of the crash, Wagner said.
— Noozhawk executive editor Tom Bolton can be reached at tbolton@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.