Oregon Public Broadcasting

A Multnomah County grand jury won't pursue criminal charges against a Tri Met bus driver.

That's after reviewing an April bus accident that left two people dead in downtown Portland.  OPB's Sam Sanders reports.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Chuck Sparks presented the case to the grand jury. He says their deliberations were exhaustive:

Chuck Sparks: "They heard 33 witnesses, and 16 hours of testimony. They heard 19 people who were eyewtinesses on the street at the time it happened. They heard the three surviving witnesses and then they heard from the bus driver."

The grand jury chose not to press criminal chargers against Sandi Day, the Tri Met bus driver who hit five pedestrians on NW Broadway and Glisan. They found that her driving did not meet the threshold of negligence needed for a criminal case.

But Sparks said it's likely the families of the victims will file civil cases against Tri Met.

The report finds several factors led to the accident, including poor lighting and the driver's illegal left turn.

Tri Met officials say they've already begun a comprehensive safety review since the crash. The grand jury's findings will inform their internal investigation.

The bus driver still remains on paid administrative leave.