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Detroit bus driver involved in second fatal crash

Following the latest crash, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan directed a review of the city's transportation practices.
Detroit bus driver involved in second fatal crash
Posted at 11:52 AM, Jun 05, 2023
and last updated 2023-06-05 12:52:29-04

The driver of a Detroit Department of Transportation bus that ran over and killed a woman last week was also behind the wheel during a fatal accident in 2015.

The latest crash happened on Friday. Investigators said the bus hit a pedestrian in a crosswalk.

The victim was identified as Janice Bauer, who worked for the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation.

The city said an investigation is underway to see who was at fault.

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Multiple sources confirm to Scripps News Detroit that the driver, a 25-year DDOT employee, was also behind the wheel in 2015 when her bus ran over a man.

Joey Davis had reportedly just gotten off the bus and retrieved his bicycle from a rack attached to the front when he was struck. 

Surveillance video showed that the bus driver appeared to be looking in her rear-view mirror — not at the man in front of her bus — when she took her foot off the brake and drove over him. 

Davis died later at the hospital. 

His family sued the city, settling for $4.5 million.

Despite the considerable settlement, the city did not fire the driver. Instead, she was retrained by the city and remained a DDOT bus driver.

In light of the latest fatal crash, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan has directed a review of the city's transportation practices, which will include any necessary recommendations "to prevent tragedies in the future.”

This story was originally published by Ross Jones at Scripps News Detroit.

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