Oregon Public Broadcasting

TriMet fired a driver today whose bus hit and killed two pedestrians in April. Driver Sandi Day was making a left turn and has said she didn't see the five people she hit in a crosswalk.

Three separate accident review panels all concluded that Day could have avoided hitting the pedestrians at Broadway and Glisan in downtown Portland.

TriMet spokeswoman Mary Fetsch says that's why Day is being fired. She's been on leave since the accident.

Mary Fetsch: "You know, it was just really a tragic accident, beyond words. She was a good operator. But the accident was deemed preventable."

Fetsch says TriMet is concerned for Day's safety. She says Day has been receiving workers' compensation from TriMet because she was assaulted the night of the accident.

A grand jury cleared Day of criminal wrongdoing. But police cited her for six traffic violations.

The families of the two women killed in the accident say they intend to sue both TriMet and the driver.