A charter bus hit and killed a woman in her early 30s crossing the street at St. Mary’s and Market streets on Wednesday afternoon, police said.
Police responded to the intersection at 4:25 p.m., San Antonio Police Department spokeswoman Michelle Ramos told reporters. After emergency medical services arrived, first responders pronounced the woman, who was a City of San Antonio employee, dead at the scene.
“She was crossing … and the bus was turning left onto Market from St. Mary’s,” Ramos said. “We know there was no one in the bus other than a driver and an employee of the charter bus.”
Authorities have not formerly identified the woman. A tweet from Councilwoman Rebecca Viagran (D3) offered condolences to the family of Omega McKinnon, who was a City accounting supervisor.
Mayor Ron Nirenberg and City Manager Erik Walsh, along with a few City Council members and City employees visited the scene Wednesday afternoon.
The mayor, City Council, and those gathered in Council chambers also bowed their heads for a moment of silence in honor of McKinnon Thursday morning.
A GoFundMe page posted on the City’s Department of Human Services Facebook page asks for donations to cover funeral costs and other unforeseen expenses. McKinnon joined the City’s Office of Budget and Management in 2016, according to the page, and moved to San Antonio from Greensboro, North Carolina with a 13-year-old son. She most recently worked as the department accounting supervisor for the Department of Human Services.
“Omega was a strong, independent, spiritual person and always quick to lend a helping hand,” GoFundMe campaign organizers wrote. “We will always remember her loving spirit and beautiful smile. May she rest in peace.”
Human Services Director Melody Woosley said in a statement that McKinnon was a hard worker and dedicated to her team.
“Omega was a bright, exuberant and thoughtful employee who exemplified giving back and making a difference in our community,” she said on the department’s Facebook page. “We extend our deepest sympathies to Omega’s family.”
Investigators are looking into who had right of way at the time of the accident, she said. Preliminary information provided by SAPD shows that witnesses to the accident said McKinnon had the right of way on the crosswalk. The charter bus did not see her crossing and made a left turn, hitting her.
The driver of the charter bus, which was from Regent Coach Line, has talked with detectives, Ramos added.
“Right now it’s preliminary information,” she said. “He’s cooperating. We believe this is a tragic accident.”
Attorney Mark Cooper, who is representing Regent Coach Line, said they are still investigating the incident but declined to comment further.
Ramos urged drivers and pedestrians to pay attention to their surroundings.
“It’s something we all do,” she said. “We cross the street, it’s downtown, you don’t expect it.”
She called the incident “very upsetting.”
Rivard Report Photo Editor Scott Ball and Senior Reporter Iris Dimmick contributed to this article.
