Charges considered for bus driver who hit teen

North Las Vegas police have recommended misdemeanor charges against a 51-year-old Clark County School District bus driver who while on duty struck a teenage girl in a crosswalk and pinned her under the vehicle’s wheels, severely injuring her in November.

Police spokeswoman Chrissie Coon said investigators on Wednesday submitted misdemeanor charges against Lawrence “Larry” Lai, who was behind the wheel of a district bus that hit a 16-year-old girl Nov. 3 at Brooks Avenue and Berg Street, just south of Lincoln Elementary School.

Coon said police are recommending the charges of failing to yield to a pedestrian and failing to stop at a stop sign against Lai.

The city’s Municipal Court office is reviewing the case, Coon said.

City prosecutors could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Coon said Lai, who voluntarily submitted to a blood test, did not have any drugs or alcohol in his body during the collision.

It appears the 3:25 p.m. crash happened because Lai wasn’t paying attention, she said.

“Nothing indicates anything more than just driver inattention,” Coon said.

“We need to push drivers to keep their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel. …The pedestrian was doing everything she should have been doing in this case.”

Police have not identified the girl, but the Review-Journal learned she is Linda Sida, a Canyon Springs High School student.

Sida was initially in critical condition at University Medical Center, and doctors thought they might have to amputate her leg.

Coon said the girl was released in mid-November and is expected to make a full recovery.

David Roddy, a school district spokesman, said Lai is still employed with the school system but has been on sick leave since the crash.

Roddy added that the district can move to fire Lai if he is convicted, but his case would have to be reviewed internally.

Lai was hired by the district in February 1996. He makes $21.60 an hour, Roddy said.

On the afternoon of the crash, police said Lai’s bus was traveling north on Berg when it approached the intersection at Brooks, which has a stop sign and marked crosswalk.

The teenager was walking west, trying to cross Berg in the crosswalk, when the bus driver failed to yield and hit her.

The teenager was knocked into the intersection and remained in the vehicle’s path.

Lai attempted to brake but ran over the girl and pinned her under the front wheels.

When rescue personnel arrived, they told him to back up and “dislodge the juvenile,” police said.

The bus, which was about 60 percent the length of a standard school bus, was carrying one student when the teen was hit.

The collision was one of many serious injury or fatal vehicle crashes involving pedestrians that occurred in Southern Nevada in late October and throughout November.

Lai has no criminal record, Coon said.

Contact reporter Antonio Planas at aplanas@review journal.com or 702-383-4638.