Police: Bus Driver Knew She Stuck Man In Aventura Fatal Accident

AVENTURA (CBS4)-After reviewing the footage captured by a Miami-Dade bus, police charged the bus driver with leaving the scene of a fatal accident. Her vehicle struck and killed a 51-year-old Aventura man last year, police said Thursday.

The driver, Goddess Newbold-Hayes, 41, of Miami, is also charged with failing to render aid, according to Aventura police.

On Nov. 27, Newbold-Hayes was behind the wheel of a Miami-Dade Transit bus whose rear struck Tomislav Ritoper in the 20000 block of Northeast 29th Place.

At the time, police said that it appeared that Ritoper stumbled off the curb and into the vehicle's path as it turned. Newbold-Hayes had driven away from the scene, saying she did not realize her bus had struck someone.

But a review of footage captured by cameras inside the bus showed that Newbold-Hayes did know she had struck Ritoper before driving away, which led to Thursday's charges, police said.

Miami-Dade Transit spokeswoman Karla Damian said the department cooperated with Aventura police in the investigation. Newbold-Hayes was relieved of her duties after the accident and also underwent post-accident testing for drugs and alcohol, which she passed, Damian said.

Administrative action against Newbold-Hayes is pending, she said.

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