RTD Driver Killed Fallen Motorcyclist, Police Say

An RTD bus driver who allegedly ran over and killed a fallen motorcycle rider in Canoga Park and then continued on her route was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter Wednesday, police said.

Teresa LaBarba, 35, of Canoga Park, could also face a felony hit-and-run charge when evidence from the accident is presented to prosecutors, Traffic Officer Gary Weller said.

Police said LaBarba was driving her bus south on Topanga Canyon Boulevard about 10 a.m. when it ran over Eric Edwards, 20, of Chatsworth, and crushed him. Moments earlier, Edwards had fallen off his motorcycle when he lost control of it near the intersection of Sherman Way.

“The motorcyclist crashed and the bus driver ran over him,” Weller said. “She never touched the motorcycle. Then the bus took off.”

Police said five passengers were on the bus and it was unclear whether they saw the accident or told LaBarba to stop. Detectives were attempting to locate them for interviews Wednesday night. One of the passengers who was contacted told police he did not see or feel the accident, Detective Wayne Dufort said.

Weller said it was initially unclear who had hit Edwards until witnesses told investigators it was an RTD bus. The RTD was then contacted and LaBarba, who was known to be driving a route in the area, was ordered by radio to return to the accident scene, Weller said.

LaBarba, an RTD driver for seven years, told investigators that when she noticed the motorcycle in the street behind her, she radioed RTD supervisors to report that there had been an accident but that it did not involve her. She then continued on her route.

“She is claiming she didn’t know she hit him,” Weller said.

However, police said two witnesses who were not on the bus said they saw the vehicle bounce as the front and rear tires struck Edwards.