1 Killed, 5 Hurt as Shuttle Jumps Curb at LAX

An airport parking lot shuttle bus jumped a curb Sunday and hit six people outside a Los Angeles International Airport terminal, killing a woman, authorities said.

The 50-year-old San Pedro woman was pinned under the bus and died in the 5:40 p.m. accident outside the lower level of the Bradley International Terminal, police said. Her name was not released.

Five people were taken to area hospitals where reports on their conditions were not immediately available. None was believed to be seriously hurt, police said.

The driver’s claim that the accident was caused by brake failure was under investigation by traffic officers.

“It appears that he was not under the influence of anything,” Los Angeles Police Sgt. Robert Topete said of the driver, adding that routine post-accident drug and alcohol tests were performed. Results were not immediately available.

The driver told investigators his brakes failed, causing him to strike another shuttle bus from behind, jump the curb and hit a bench where the woman was sitting with her husband, Topete said.

“He (the husband) managed to get out of the way when he saw the bus coming,” Topete said.

The bus, which ferries passengers from remote parking lots to terminals, was impounded for an inspection of the brakes.