Bus driver killed in downtown crash from a family of bus operators

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Metro bus driver Sylvia Herrera stops by a makeshift memorial erected for her colleague, 47-year-old Olivia Gamboa, who died in a crash this week. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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A sign posted at a bus stop in the 400 block of Broadway pays respect to Metro bus drivers after the death of Olivia Gamboa this week. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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Passersby pay their respects at a memorial erected at 5th Street and Broadway for Metro bus driver Olivia Gamboa, who died in a crash this week. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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A Metro driver died Wednesday morning after a tow truck smashed into her bus at 5th Street and Broadway downtown, authorities said. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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The crash occurred shortly before 5:10 a.m. when the speeding tow truck ran a red light and collided head-on with the bus, said LAPD Sgt. Rudy Lopez. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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The collision sent the tow truck careening into a 7-Eleven store, injuring a clerk working there. The clerk was treated at the scene. The storefront was “completely destroyed,” Lopez said. A building inspector was expected to check the integrity of the building where the truck crashed, officials said. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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Both drivers had to be removed from their vehicles with the Jaws of Life, a Los Angeles Fire Department official said. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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A 7-Eleven worker puts an ice-pack to her face, which was hit by a bottle when a tow truck smashed into her store after hitting a Metro bus. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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The tow truck driver was listed in serious condition at a hospital. There were no passengers on the bus at the time of the crash, officials said. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

By Samantha Schaefer and Joseph Serna

June 12, 2013 4:19 PM PT

Olivia Gamboa was just beginning her shift on Metro Line 18 in downtown L.A. when a tow truck smashed head-on into her bus early Wednesday.

The 13-year veteran, who was steering an otherwise unoccupied bus near 5th Street and Broadway, died after the tow truck driver ran a red light and slammed into the bus before 5:10 a.m., LAPD Sgt. Rudy Lopez said.

Gamboa, 47, was described by co-workers as a quiet, family-oriented woman who had a big smile and could light up the division — even in the early morning, said Marc Littman, a Metropolitan Transportation Authority spokesman.

The bus driver always put a smile on the overnight service employees’ faces and was well-liked by her passengers, she said. Over the years, Gamboa had received a number of commendations.

Gamboa was proud of her job and came from a family of bus operators, Littman said. Her husband works for Metro and her daughter recently started there as well.

It is rare for operators to be killed while on duty, but on occasion drivers have died in traffic accidents, he said. In May 2012, a bus driver was fatally shot in West Hollywood.

“These tragic incidents are very infrequent, but because we’re a family it really hits us,” Littman said.

Grief counselors have been dispatched to counsel employees, and Metro will work with the employees union and Gamboa’s division to plan a memorial service, Littman said.

“Metro is saddened to learn of the passing of one of our family members this morning as a result of a horrific accident in downtown Los Angeles,” Dave Sotero of Metro said.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the bus operator’s family and friends during this difficult time.”

The early morning collision sent the tow truck careening into a 7-Eleven convenience store, injuring a clerk, who was treated at the scene. The storefront was “completely destroyed,” Lopez said.

The tow truck driver was hospitalized in serious condition, officials said.

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Twitter: @Sam_Schaefer

Samantha.Schaefer@latimes.com

Twitter: @JosephSerna

Joseph.Serna@latimes.com