Police: Bus driver who killed mother and son in Mamaroneck crosswalk will not face criminal charges
At a press conference at Village Hall, Chief Sandra DiRuzza said her investigators could not charge Edward Jones, 86 in connection to the June 20 crash.
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The bus driver who crashed into a woman and her son earlier this summer - killing both - will not face criminal charges, Mamaroneck police said Friday.
At a press conference at Village Hall, Chief Sandra DiRuzza said her investigators could not charge Edward Jones in connection to the June 20 crash.
DiRuzza said victims Molly Donovan and her 6-year-old son Michael entered a crosswalk on Mamaroneck Avenue after the flashing red countdown had begun, which is against state law.
In her prepared remarks, DiRuzza was blunt.
"The bus driver Edward Jones killed two people that day," she said. "He will have to live with that reality the rest of his life."
Jones – a driver for Royal Coach Lines – turned left from New Street onto Mamaroneck Avenue, hitting the mother and son.
Michael was pronounced dead on scene.
Molly Donovan died at the hospital.
Police said Jones was driving between 4 mph and 7 mph at the time of the crash, and simply did not see Donovan and her son.
Police said tests showed Jones was not under the influence of alcohol at the time.
They believe he might have been distracted by other pedestrians just ahead of Donovan and her son or a passing ambulance.
"There are no good outcomes here," Chief DiRuzza said. "We have to work within the confines of the law. We did what we were able to do under the law."
"At no point did he ever express that he was rushing or felt rushed," Lt. PJ Trujillo said. "He didn't see them. We did a followup interview with Mr. Jones and again gave him the opportunity to explain what happened at the accident scene. He just simply did not see them."
Village leaders have begun installing certain safety measures to minimize the possibility of future fatal accidents at the intersection, including curb extensions, extra signage and crossing guards at all major intersections after school.
"I think it's great," Mamaroneck resident Bonnie Kraner-Clappy said. "This was a tragedy and I'm just so glad they're doing something about it."
Jones received two summonses for failure to yield to a pedestrian and one summons for using his phone while driving two minutes prior to the crash.
Police said Jones is still employed at Royal Coach Lines.
News 12's Ben Nandy's Friday afternoon report.
