Criminal charges possible in fatal crash involving Denver city bus that ran red light

Police consider charges in Denver bus crash

DENVER — Investigators are considering charges against the driver of a Denver city bus that ran a red light and struck two vehicles, killing two people, police said Sunday.

At least 12 other people, including the bus driver, were injured in Saturday’s crash. Witnesses said the bus hit a Volkswagen Rabbit, then pushed a pickup into a parking lot and against a billboard pole.

A decision on charges was expected in the next several days, police spokesman Matthew Murray said.

The bus is owned by the Denver-area’s Regional Transportation District and was driven by a worker contracted through Veolia Transportation. The company was working with police to determine what happened, Veolia spokeswoman Valerie Michael said.

The two people who died were riding in the Volkswagen, including 28-year-old passenger Carla Miranda of Denver, police said. The male driver of the car hasn’t been identified.

Ten passengers of the bus were hurt, including four with serious injuries. The driver of the pickup was also seriously injured.

About half of RTD’s bus service is privately contracted.

In January, an RTD bus driven by a Veolia employee ran a red light, causing a multicar pileup at Florida Avenue and Sheridan Boulevard in Denver.