Aurora – A public bus passed through a red light last week and smashed into a car, witnesses say, critically injuring an 82-year-old woman.
Then, just four hours after the bus was impounded Thursday, it rolled over the tow-truck driver at the impound lot. The driver, Richard Gillard, 38, died Saturday from his injuries.
Gillard had lowered the Regional Transportation District bus to the ground, and it rolled forward as he was unhooking it from his tow truck, said friend and co-worker Kirk Richardson.
Gillard was pinned for several minutes beneath the left front tire, Richardson said. Gillard was unconscious when paramedics arrived but was later revived. His family removed him from life support Saturday.
Officials say the bus could have weighed up to 40,000 pounds.
Gillard was unloading the bus at the police impound lot, where police wanted it held pending their investigation of the earlier crash. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating Gillard’s death.
Wednesday, a procession of about 100 tow trucks will drive through Aurora from the funeral home to a church off Tower Road in honor of Gillard.
“He was just a great, great guy,” Richardson said.
Gillard leaves behind his wife of 18 years, Beth, and three sons, ages 11, 10 and 6.
Gillard was to start a family vacation Friday, Richardson said.
About 3 p.m. Thursday, according to police and witnesses, the RTD bus was covering the northbound Route 153 when it ran a red light at East Hampden Avenue and South Chambers Road, broadsiding a car that was turning left in the intersection.
The car’s driver, Rowena Dahl, remains in critical condition from internal injuries and has undergone several operations, said Beverly Husted-Petry, spokeswoman for Aurora Medical Center South.
Police are waiting to hear from doctors about the extent of Dahl’s injuries before citing the bus driver, Kim Koanda, 33, Sgt. Tim Genaro said.
“Obviously, there will be a red-light violation,” he said. “There could be others, with severe bodily injury, depending on what the hospital says.”
Koanda was working for Veolia Transportation, which contracts to operate 125 buses along 29 weekday routes in the Denver metro region, said RTD spokesman Scott Reed.
Veolia officials wouldn’t comment on the case or say whether the driver has been suspended. Koanda couldn’t be reached for comment.
Staff writer Jeremy P. Meyer may be reached at 303-820-1175 or jpmeyer@denverpost.com.
