Ex-bus driver gets probation in pedestrian's death

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A judge decided to suspend a jail sentence for a former city bus driver who retired after his bus struck and killed a woman as she walked across a street.

Judge Janet Grubb of Franklin County Municipal Court said Wednesday that she could not see any benefit to the community to jail Walter Carruthers and placed him on probation for a year.

Carruthers, 66, said he did not see Maxine Galloway in a crosswalk as he made a left turn on Oct. 30. He pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges of failure to yield and vehicular manslaughter.

“If I caused any pain and sorrow to the family, I’m sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to do that. I didn’t see her.”