Woman Killed by Bus May Have Had Seizure

Burbank police were attempting to determine whether a woman who was run over and killed by an RTD bus Monday may have fallen into the roadway while suffering an epileptic seizure, authorities said.

Magaci Maynez, 28, of Burbank was killed instantly when struck by the bus about 10:30 a.m. on 3rd Street near Cypress Avenue, Police Sgt. Don Goldberg said. Investigators learned from the victim’s relatives that she had epilepsy.

Witnesses told police that Maynez was headed north on the west side of the street when she stumbled in front of an approaching southbound bus.

“According to witnesses, she was walking along, she held her hand to her head, dropped her purse and either fell or stumbled into the roadway,” Goldberg said. “At that time, she was struck and killed instantly by the RTD bus. We are looking at the distinct possibility that she had some kind of seizure.”

Goldberg said the bus was driven by Eddie Nava, 36, of Los Angeles, who attempted to swerve out of the way. Nava was not cited in connection with the accident, and no one on the bus was injured, Goldberg said.

A spokesman for the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office said there was no forensic test that could reveal whether Maynez had an epileptic seizure moments before the accident.

Coroner’s spokesman Bob Dambacher said the office will rely on witness statements and Maynez’s medical history in making a determination of whether the victim suffered a seizure.