Bus Driver Arrested for DUI after Fatal Pedestrian Accident

The driver of a school bus was arrested for driving under the influence after his bus carrying 11 children struck and killed an elderly woman Wednesday afternoon in Ventura.

According to the California Highway Patrol, the fatal accident took place at around 2:55 p.m. at the intersection of Woodland Street and Brookshire Avenue, where 54 year old Joanne Madaule collided with 75 year old Marguerita McIntosh as she was making her way across the street in the crosswalk.

The bus was reportedly heading northbound on Brookshire and making a left turn onto Woodland when it crashed into McIntosh, having just left Mound Elementary School.

There were 11 elementary school students on the bus at the time of the accident, though none were hurt. Madaule was also unhurt in the accident.

McIntosh, on the other hand, was rushed to nearby Ventura Medical Center for the treatment of serious head and facial injuries. She was pronounced dead as a result of her injuries shortly after her arrival at the hospital.

Police who responded to the accident subjected the bus driver to a field sobriety check, which she promptly failed. She was then booked on charges of felony DUI causing injury and felony vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. She was held under $50,000 bail, which was posted soon after her arrest.

Investigators shut down a portion of the intersection for a short time to try to piece together the accident and uncover a little more about the circumstances that led to the collision. Police are looking into any other factors that may have been in play, aside from the intoxication of the bus driver.

Driving under the influence is never acceptable, especially when transporting almost a dozen elementary school students home after school. If you or someone you know has been hurt in a crash with a drunk driver, there are legal options available to help you recover.

DUI related accidents inflict serious and life altering damages to those involved, and take the lives of hundreds of people each year. Fortunately, compensation may be available, which a highly trained Los Angeles car accident lawyer can help you earn from those at fault.

At AA Accident Attorneys, we can lead you through the complicated process to get you the justice you deserve. We understand the dangers you face on California’s crowded and dangerous roads, both as legal professionals and as citizens who drive the same roads and live in the same communities.

As always, we will not charge you anything for our services until your case have been won. Call us today and learn what our accident lawyers can do for you!

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