The driver of a Google bus struck and killed a pedestrian Tuesday evening as she crossed a street in Saratoga near West Valley College. KRON 4 reports that the bus is owned by San Francisco-based Storer Coachways but is contracted through the tech giant also known as Alphabet, and that it makes at least ten daily runs between the college and the company's Mountain View headquarters.
Xiaolan Lou, 51, of San Jose was hit by the charter bus some 15 minutes after sunset. The bus was traveling south on Fruitvale Avenue and making a left turn onto Athletics Way when the collision occurred. The intersection does have a painted crosswalk, but is not lit. Investigators are working to determine if Lou was in the crosswalk at the time of the crash.
“We take great effort to provide a safe environment for our students, staff and the community," said West Valley College president Bradley Davis. "This tragic accident is a reminder of how precious and fragile life can be."
The college has an arrangement with Google wherein tech workers can park in the school's lots and be shuttled to the nearby tech campus.
Lou reportedly worked near the crash site, but was not affiliated with either Google or West Valley College. According to The Mercury News, officials believe she was employed at Saratoga Retirement Center and was walking from there to a bus stop when she was hit.
“We are greatly saddened for this loss and offer our heartfelt condolences and prayers to the family,” a Storer Coachways spokesperson told KRON 4. “We pledge our assistance in cooperating with state and local authorities in the investigation.”
No one on the bus was injured and the driver did not appear to be under the influence of any drugs. Lou was pronounced dead at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center.
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