Commuter bus kills woman in Rosslyn

A commuter bus in Rosslyn hit and killed an elderly woman crossing the street yesterday morning, the second fatal bus accident in the Washington area in a week.The bus was headed south on North Nash Street and trying to turn left on Lee Highway just before 10 a.m. when it struck the 72-year-old woman, said Arlington Police Department spokesman John Ritter.Police questioned the driver and eight passengers aboard the tour-style bus, which transports commuters, and they continued to search for more witnesses. “We’re looking for anyone who might have seen her,” Mr. Ritter said.No charges have been filed against the driver, and the identity of the woman has been withheld until her family is notified.Mr. Ritter said investigators are uncertain whether the woman was in the crosswalk or who had a green light, so they will review physical evidence and re-create the accident scene.Police officials have asked witnesses to call them at 703/228-4172.In the earlier accident, a 7-year-old boy and his mother were struck Thursday afternoon by a Quality Tour Transport Inc. bus making a right turn off F Street onto Ninth Street NW. The boy died, and the woman was taken to the hospital in serious condition with leg injuries.Ed Chitwood of Abingdon, Va., said he was a few feet behind the mother and son when the accident happened. He said the mother was screaming and asking where her child was.”The child was hit, rolled under the bus and was unconscious at the time,” Mr. Chitwood said.The boy and the mother reportedly had the green light to cross Ninth Street to get to the International Spy Museum at 800 F St. NW.Only the driver, on his way to pick up 20 or 25 children at the museum and take them to the airport, was on the bus.Police investigators questioned the driver and will give the information to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Quality Tour also sent investigators to the scene.In another incident yesterday afternoon, authorities in Baltimore County were investigating a case in which a school bus hit a 3-year-old boy.The boy was alert following the accident, but was airlifted to the pediatrics ward at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Investigators were trying to figure out yesterday how the accident occurred. Witnesses said the boy was trying to buy a treat from an ice cream truck when he reportedly stepped into the path of an oncoming bus. Officials said the boy may have suffered internal injuries, or at least broke some ribs. The school bus driver will not be charged.