No jail time for woman who was driving PAT bus that hit, killed Pitt student

PITTSBURGH — A Port Authority of Allegheny County bus driver pleaded guilty on Monday to involuntary manslaughter, a year after a University of Pittsburgh student was hit and killed in Oakland.

Shavonne James also pleaded guilty to recklessly endangering another person, but will not go to jail as part of her plea, the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office announced.

Instead, James was sentenced to three years of probation for the accident that took the life of Pitt senior Barbara Como on Jan. 18, 2020.

>>STORY: Pitt student hit, killed by Port Authority bus in Oakland

James was driving her normal route from the South Side to the Hill District when the accident happened, according to a criminal complaint.

James told police she stopped at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and DeSoto Avenue and then turned right onto DeSoto. The bus picked up a passenger at that intersection, which is not a designated bus stop, police said.

James told police while she was going through the turn, passengers on the bus began to yell for her to stop, according to the complaint. James said she went about five more feet forward before she looked out the window and saw Como lying on the ground.

Charge of involuntary manslaughter filed against PAT bus driver after Pitt student hit, killed Charge of involuntary manslaughter filed against PAT bus driver after Pitt student hit, killed

Cox Media Group