Housing employee dies from injuries after being hit by U-M bus

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A longtime University Housing employee died Thursday from injuries suffered earlier in the day when she was struck by a U-M bus.

Nancy Sanders was struck near the intersection of East Ann Street and Zina Pitcher Place while she was walking to work. She died Thursday afternoon at University Hospital. Ann Arbor Police continue to investigate the crash.

In an email message to University Housing employees, Housing Director Linda Newman said Sanders joined University Housing in 1977. She was a custodian who worked for several years at West Quad and most recently at Couzens and Alice Lloyd halls.

“Many of us in Housing and the campus community knew Nancy and enjoyed her friendship. This is a tragic loss. We will miss her very much. Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with her family,” Newman wrote to Housing employees.

Funeral services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday, June 23, at the David C. Brown Temporary Viewing Chapel, 500 E. Huron River Drive, Belleville.

Comments

  1. Anon UMEmployee
    on June 23, 2014 at 10:22 am

    These bus drivers need to be better trained, or told that they are not driving race cars and need to stop driving like reckless maniacs. Where I work, my colleagues and I are always complaining about the way they drive. Being on time is one thing, putting the fear into the hearts of others and risk of death is not acceptable!!! Put some tracking systems onto these buses, see how fast they accelerate and decelerate, put a review process in place, and stop hiring students!!!

  2. Kristine Auwers
    on June 23, 2014 at 10:32 am

    I was almost hit by a U-M bus near State Street and Hill at around 10 AM a few weeks ago, while biking in the street. The driver pulled up from behind quickly, leaving precious inches between my body and the side of the bus, when there was no room to pass. I didn’t report the incident but wish I had.

  3. Kathleen Sommers
    on June 23, 2014 at 11:17 am

    I have experienced many “near misses” due to negligence on the part of campus bus and campus vehicle drivers. I did register a complaint once that was supposedly forwarded to the appropriate department and never received a response.

  4. Caroline Mohai
    on June 23, 2014 at 11:20 am

    This is not the first time an employee has been run over by an U-M bus. It happened 15 or so years ago at the intersection of Zina Pitcher and Glen Ave. Maybe Campus Security could take this on….catching U-M buses that are speeding or drivnig recklessly? I never see this behavior from an AATA bus — just the U-M ones.

  5. Kate Dyki
    on June 23, 2014 at 1:19 pm

    I regularly see UM buses being driven aggressively and recklessly throughout the campus area. Perhaps route schedules need to have a few minutes added in so that the drivers will take more care with their very large and dangerous vehicles. You simply cannot stop a bus as quickly as a personal vehicle, and I’ve seen many near misses with both pedestrians and other vehicles due to overly aggressive driving. I am sure that the campus community would be happy to plan ahead and take a few extra minutes to get somewhere if it means that we’re all a little safer.

  6. Patricia Christopherson
    on June 24, 2014 at 6:52 am

    My deepest sympathies to the family of Ms Sanders, I too have seen some bus drivers who could use a little more observance/training before being let loose on the roadways. But, I also know some very good Blue Bus drivers and to remind the ‘ANON UNEMPLOYEE’, in this case the driver was a 68 or 69yo veteran bus driver and not a student. Also, not to make excuses or saying this was the case, but I was taught to look both ways before crossing a street even if I have the green light … as proven, no human wins in a match with a vehicle even if it is a Honda Fit! Furthermore, do not assume the vehicle’s driver sees you. More than once, I have almost been hit by a vehicle (legally) turning on a red light whose driver was watching for traffic not pedestrians.

  7. t hill
    on June 24, 2014 at 9:05 am

    So sorry

  8. Martin Stenzel
    on June 24, 2014 at 9:24 am

    Hello,
    I am a long time U of M commuter route bus rider, for over 7 years, a few times a day as my last job.

    There are many factors that caused this death in my opinion. The first is that the drivers feel very, very pressured to stay on schedule!

  9. Anon umemployee
    on June 24, 2014 at 10:20 am

    I myself take the bus from the lots to work and back, I have a concern about the distractions of the radios in the windows on the dashboard. a driver was changing the station while driving, the music was to loud not everyone likes the same kind of music a distraction!!! Also other times drivers I have seen IPhones in there pockets/with earphones one in a ear one out. A distraction!!!! Also at stops waiting for passengers the driver hurries to see who called, who sent a message ,or send one back a distraction!!!. We do have good drivers ,we need the busses but I think managers need to look at all the distractions and make changes for ALL to be safe, drivers, passengers, and pedestrians!!! Nancy was a friend of mine and this should have never happened to her or any one else !!!!!!

  10. Anon UMEmployee-2
    on June 24, 2014 at 12:32 pm

    I agree that these buses drive way to fast and carelessly. I just said to someone recently that it is surprising more people are not hit. They simply do not stop for pedestrians and they are always speeding. At NCRC, when they turn into our complex you know you better get out of the street quickly if you are crossing the road. I recognize they have a schedule, that does not give anyone the right to disregard others’ safety. My deepest sympathy to the family who lost their loved one.

  11. Bett Weston
    on June 24, 2014 at 1:46 pm

    My sympathies to the family and friends of Ms. Sanders. I just got back from a trip from North Campus to the Union on an errand and thought about the incident at that intersection. Both my rides today were perfectly fine and, but there have been times in the past when I wanted to report drivers. Some are so careful and others drive as though they want to make the most painful ride for passengers packed like sardines at the beginning of Fall Term. I have also seen pedestrians do the most insane things like step out to cross the street when they don’t have the right-of-way, busy on cell phone with headphones, bus headed downhill, and the driver blaring the horn, stomped on the brakes and all the bus passengers collectively holding our breath. I don’t know the circumstances of this incident. We all need to be careful and mindful of each other.

  12. James Simmer
    on June 25, 2014 at 6:33 am

    This is a perfect example of a rush to judgment. The article did not give any details on this bus incident, yet all but one of the comments assume the accident was the fault of the bus driver.

    • Joyce French
      on July 23, 2014 at 12:45 pm

      I agree James.

    • eleanor singer
      on July 23, 2014 at 1:35 pm

      Whether this particular driver was at fault or not, UM buses often go much faster than the posted speed limit, making accidents more likely. Something needs to be done to change this. (To be fair, I’ve ridden AATA buses guilty of the same thing.)

  13. Hospital Employee
    on June 25, 2014 at 9:04 am

    I have been the victim of several “near misses” from both U of M buses and AATA buses. It seems like they all drive angry. Maybe it’s the schedule they have to keep. I have seen AATA and UM buses not yield the legal right of way to vehicles, acting like they can do as they please, they have a schedule to keep and their bus was bigger than a your car- look out and get out of the way, I’m coming through regardless of the laws! They have a tough job; I wouldn’t want it-but drivers and their superiors need to remember that they have people’s lives in their hands-both inside the bus AND outside. My heart goes out to Ms. Saunders’ family.

  14. Hospital Employee
    on June 25, 2014 at 10:44 am

    I have been the victim of several “near misses” from both U of M buses and AATA buses. It seems like they all drive angry. Maybe it’s the schedule they have to keep. I have seen AATA and UM buses not yield the legal right of way to vehicles, acting like they can do as they please, they have a schedule to keep and their bus was bigger than a your car- look out and get out of the way, I’m coming through regardless of the laws! They have a tough job; I wouldn’t want it-but drivers and their superiors need to remember that they have people’s lives in their hands-both inside the bus AND outside. My heart goes out to Ms. Saunders’ family.

  15. Hospital Employee Employee
    on June 26, 2014 at 9:38 am

    These bus drivers need to be more careful and not drive like a bunch of maniacs. They also need to come to a complete stop before just taking off. It is not nice to leave people in the rain.

  16. Kristin Colosimo
    on June 30, 2014 at 1:06 pm

    A general comment; One thing I notice on a daily basis is pedestrians constantly walking right out into oncoming traffic. Sometimes they are simply walking, many times they are on their phones with ear buds. There is no regard for their safety and it is expected that all cars give them the right of way. As a matter of fact, an ordinance was approved in 2010 in AA stating that all vehicles MUST STOP for any pedestrian in a cross walk OR at any curb. But guess what Ann Arbor, you have a huge driving public that comes from areas other than Ann Arbor. How can you expect these drivers to know about this law? I learned the hard way, by driving to work many times with so many people walking in front of me without batting an eye, and being yelled at by these pedestrians! Sadly, the death of one of our co-workers will probably do nothing to open the eyes of politicians who have been asked over and over again to STOP this law. http://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2013/12/ann_arbor_mayor_using_veto_pow.html

  17. A university employee Employee
    on July 9, 2014 at 7:25 am

    I agreed with JAMES SIMMER’s comment. Please remember that there are many jaywalkers in Ann Arbor as well. So we cannot blame the driver solely without the full investigation.

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