SAN DIEGO -- Sheriff's investigators say a bus driver who hit and end a pedestrian in the South Bay was distracted because he was making a personal call on his cell phone.
The accident happened at the intersection of 9th Street and Imperial Beach Boulevard last Tuesday. Eva Smart, 85, was within a few feet of the curb in a crosswalk when a municipal bus rounded the corner and hit her. Smart died in the hospital of multiple injuries.
Smart was walking home from an outing with her daughter when the accident occurred. Family members left flowers at the curb where Smart was end, with a note reading, "Mama, we love you so very much."
Witnesses said the driver, Jesus Villaneuva, was talking on his cell phone when the accident occurred. Villaneuva, 60, has worked for the transit system for 12 years.
While it is not illegal to talk on cell phones while driving in California, San Diego municipal bus drivers are prohibited from using cell phones to make personal calls. Calls are only allowed in the case of emergencies.
Officials say they are seeing more and more cases where cell phones threaten public safety.
"You see your everyday driver driving with cell phones. Other drivers and pedestrians need to be aware that they are not paying attention," said Franco Del Rosario, of the San Diego Sheriff's Department. "We get complaints about it all the time. Swerving in and out of traffic, not stopping for stop signs."
Villaneuva's case is being referred to the district attorney for possible prosecution, NBC 7-39 reported. He has been placed on administrative leave.
