St. Albert RCMP have laid charges against a school bus driver, in connection to the death of a little boy who died after he was hit by a school bus in late September.
RCMP said Joseph Allen, of Edmonton, has been charged with careless driving and failing to yield to a pedestrian.
“Numerous witnesses were interviewed by police and our traffic analyst of course takes a lengthy investigation and consulting with the Crown,” Cst. MJ Burroughs with St. Albert RCMP said. “It was determined we would lay the two charges.”
The charges stem from the death of six-year-old Thomas Wedman on September 27.
The little boy died after he was hit by the school bus while crossing Woodlands Road at Sir Winston Churchill Avenue in St. Albert.
Residents in the area near the intersection said the area has been a concern for years.
“People don’t wait until the intersection is cleared of pedestrians,” Cindy De Bruijn said. “As a result what’s happening is you’re walking through, and the cars are so busy turning, they’re nipping at your heels.”
A spokesperson for St. Albert Public Schools said Allen is no longer driving for the school division.
First Student, the bus company that employs Allen said he has not driven a bus since the incident – and that it’s company policy to remove a driver from service pending a police, and internal investigation.
RCMP said Allen was scheduled to appear in a St. Albert courtroom January 27, 2014.
With files from Veronica Jubinville
