• 13
  • January
    2012

The Colorado State Patrol was wrapping up an investigation this week into the death of a woman who was bit by a public transportation bus early in the morning Jan. 1.

The reported motor vehicle accident took place when the 29-year-old woman was walking in the eastbound bus lane of Highway 82, outside of Aspen, Colorado. The bus that hit her was reportedly headed from Snowmass Village to Aspen.

Little information has been released about what contributing factors may have resulted in the bus crashing into the woman. In fact, according to a news report, it remains unclear why the woman was even in the area.

She had reportedly exited a bus in Basalt at 12:45 a.m., after arguing with her fiancé. But, it is not clear how she wound up about 20 miles away from there, in the outskirts of Aspen, at the time of the crash. According to bus drivers working that night, she reportedly did not take an up valley-bound bus after she got off of the bus in Basalt. Neither of the two buses had surveillance cameras.

Occupants of a taxi said that they saw the woman walking along the road just before she was killed. But, no other witnesses have come forward to report seeing the woman between the time she exited the bus in Basalt and the time she was struck by the bus outside of Aspen, according to a news report.

It remains unclear whether the bus driver, or anyone else, may face criminal charges in the aftermath of this fatal crash. The bus that struck the woman has been inspected and the report did not reference any mechanical failures or abnormalities. Toxicology tests were conducted and those results are forthcoming.

If the negligent or reckless acts of someone did contribute to this woman's death, her surviving family members may choose to file a wrongful death claim. While nothing can replace a lossed loved one, civil litigation is one way to seek justice after a wrongful death.

Source: Glenwood Springs Post-Independent, "DA's office to review pedestrian death near Aspen," Rock Carroll, Jan. 12, 2012