Victor Kolako never looked to his left and ignored traffic signals before the Metrobus he drove fatally struck two Alexandria women as they crossed Pennsylvania Avenue on Valentine’s Day, according to a Washington police detective.
Joseph DiLiberto’s testimony convinced D.C. Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz to order Kolako to stand trial on two counts of negligent homicide. Kolako’s trial is scheduled for June 8. Metrobuses this year have fatally struck four pedestrians.
DiLiberto, who based his testimony on interviews with two cab drivers who witnessed the crash, said Kolako ignored the “walk” signal giving Sally McGee and Martha S. Schoenborn the right of way.
Kolako remains on paid administrative leave while Metro compiles its disciplinary case against him, Metro General Manager John Catoe said, adding that the punishment should be announced next week. Kolako had driven a Metrobus for six years and had a clean record until the Feb. 14 accident. Catoe said Metro has fired the driver of the bus that fatally struck a woman in January in Mount Pleasant.
Metro also is close to announcing its discipline for the driver in a Feb. 17 fatal accident in which a D.C. woman perished on Congress Place in Southeast.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
