The driver of the city transit bus that crashed into two backyards at the end of September has been charged with careless driving.
The Route A2 bus was travelling on Heritage Drive near Haviland Crescent when it drove off the road and collided with a residential fence and a shed around 6 p.m. on Sept. 30.
The bus continued through that home's backyard pushing an empty trampoline in front of it and broke through another fence. It then collided with the back deck of a second house and came to a stop.
No one was in the first house at the time of the collision. Two adults and two children were in the second home but did not suffer any physical injuries.
No passengers were on the bus, although it was in service at the time.
The driver of the bus suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital. He was discharged the next day.
Separate investigations conducted by St. Albert Transit (under the observation of a third party from the City of Edmonton) and RCMP concluded there were no mechanical problems with the city transit bus in October.
The bus was travelling within the 50 km/h speed limit, confirmed Bob McDonald, director of St. Albert Transit.
The bus driver is an employee of Diversified Transportation Ltd. The city contracts out transit bus operations, including drivers, dispatchers, inspectors and training to Diversified.
The driver is no longer employed by Diversified. He hasn’t driven a bus since, said McDonald.
Alcohol or a “medical event” were not factors in the collision, says Const. Yelena Avoine with St. Albert RCMP.
Neil Christensen of St. Albert will make his first court appearance in St. Albert court on Jan. 27, 2015.
No cost estimate of the damages incurred by the collision, or cleanup, was available at press time.
