Charges have been filed against a school bus driver who police say struck and killed an elderly pedestrian in suburban Philadelphia last month.
Montgomery County prosecutors said 64-year-old Donna Engler of Perkiomenville was arraigned Friday on charges of involuntary manslaughter and careless driving in connection with the Sept. 9 accident in Pottstown.
Police said 78-year-old Shirley Wilhelm was out for her daily morning walk when she was hit in an intersection by the school bus as it made a right-hand turn.
Sukmjinder Singh, owner of a nearby gas station, reported that Wilhelm had bought lottery tickets and a soda the morning she was bit by the bus.
According to William Metz, owner of Metz Bus Company, Engler called him the day of the incident after watching a news report regarding a hit-and-run at the intersection of W. Charlotte and Mervine Streets.
Engler told Metz that she may have been responsible for the accident and claimed she thought she hit a bag of trash.
Investigators determined that there were no obstructions to the driver seeing Wilhelm crossing the street.
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Engler was released on her own recognizance and waived her preliminary hearing, essentially sending her case directly to county court for trial.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
