A woman on a motorized scooter was fatally struck after a Tanque Verde Unified School District bus driver passed out at the wheel Wednesday afternoon.
Police have identified the woman as 43-year-old Kimberly Ebersbacher.
The crash happened on East Speedway near North Kolb Road shortly after 4 p.m., said Sgt. Kimberly Bay, a Tucson Police Department spokeswoman.
Police arrived at the scene at located a woman with obvious signs of trauma. Paramedics rendered first aid, but the woman was pronounced deceased at the scene, Bay said.
Traffic detectives continued the investigation and learned that the driver of the 2000 Blue Bird school bus was traveling west on Speedway in the curb lane, while the pedestrian was in a motorized scooter on the northern sidewalk, Bay said.
For an unknown reason, the bus driver passed out and veered onto the sidewalk, striking several trees and poles before hitting the woman on the scooter, Bay said.
Detectives don't think drug or alcohol impairment was a factor in the crash. The investigation is ongoing and no citations have been issued, Bay said.
The bus driver and a teen passenger were not injured, Bay said.
"We are deeply saddened by the accident and will continue to work with the Tucson Police Department as they complete their investigation," said Claire Place, a Tanque Verde Unified School District spokeswoman.
