Metro driver's file released: 2 crashes and a prior near-miss with a pedestrian

Four years ago, a woman complained that a bus driver almost hit her and her son while they were rushing to their Metro stop. The driver of that bus is the same man who struck and killed a woman on Dana Avenue earlier this month.

Metro released the personnel file for 46-year-old bus driver on Tuesday about two and half weeks after Beverly Kinney was struck and killed. Investigators said she was walking in a crosswalk with a walk signal.

At the time of this report, no charges have been filed against the driver. Due to this, The Enquirer is not naming him.

Two crashes

The driver was hired in February 2018. According to his application, he drove a garbage truck for four years before joining Metro.

According to his file, he has been involved in two accidents while driving a Metro bus that were determined to be his fault.

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In 2018, he ran a red light and struck another vehicle at Winchell Avenue and Findlay Street. For that, he received a written warning.

In 2022, he struck the front of another vehicle while making a left turn. He received a written warning for that as well.

During his initial training, Metro officials noted he was easily distracted and bad at multitasking, but the training reports show improvements over time.

Metro's discipline policy

Metro has a progressive form of discipline including counseling, written warnings and single and multi-day suspensions up to firing, according to its policy.

Depending on the infraction, drivers will receive a less severe penalty first and then progress to harsher penalties if they commit the same infraction again within 12 months.

In the case of preventable accidents, drivers receive a written warning on their first infraction, a one-day suspension for their second, a three-day suspension for the third and dismissal for the fourth.

The driver received written warnings for both of his accidents because they occurred more than 12 months apart.

Suspensions and other discipline

Before the crash Jan. 11, the driver had never received a suspension for any safety violation or accident.

He has been suspended for insubordination and absenteeism, per the transit agency's policy.

In 2023, he was suspended for not following the directions of his supervisor in April. The suspension was initially for 10 days but was reduced to five. The documents in his file do not explain why the reduction occurred.

He was suspended four times for "double misses." That's when a driver shows up to work more than two hours late. He was nearly suspended a fifth time for this same infraction, but the suspension was lifted due to "man power," without further explanation in the documents.

In 2020, he was sent to a refresher driving course. The file does not indicate why, but it was shortly after he received a written warning for running late on his route.

In 2022, the driver was also given a commendation from a passenger who said he is "always very nice."

Discourtesy complaint said he almost hit pedestrians in 2019

In December 2019, the driver was completing a route in West Price Hill.

A woman and her son were trying to catch the bus but missed it and filed a complaint with Metro.

"She and her son were crossing the street to catch the bus, they were almost hit by the bus. It then took off without them," the complaint reads.

Metro officials determined the complaint was valid, but no details were given in his file about how close the people were to being hit.

The driver was given counseling for discourtesy. This is the least severe form of discipline the agency records.

Metro spokesperson Brandy Jones said all customer complaints are placed in the personnel files of drivers and investigated.

Driver's license suspended

After the fatal crash this month, police said the driver's license had been suspended, but Metro was unaware of that.

According to his driving record, he was ticketed for speeding in his personal vehicle in Warren County and had not paid the fines associated with that.

There was a long gap between the court asking for the suspension and the suspension actually happening. Due to this, it is unclear if the driver knew his license was suspended.

The Franklin City Municipal Court sent a license forfeiture request to the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles dated Nov. 30, the bureau said. That request was not received or processed by the bureau of motor vehicles until Jan. 9, just two days before the crash.

The driver paid the fees on Jan. 12, the day after the crash, and his license was reinstated. This means his license was only suspended for three or four days.

Metro tracks the records of its drivers using a third-party vendor. The agency had received a report on this driver on Jan. 4. It stated his license was valid.

Metro is a member of the Ohio Transit Risk Pool, which helps many Ohio transit agencies with risk management and insurance coverage.

The Ohio Transit Risk Pool's policy states that members should check the records of their drivers at least quarterly.

What's next

The Metro driver remains on administrative leave while the crash is investigated.

The Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office has not said if the driver will face any charges.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Metro driver who hit woman had prior discipline