Metro driver charged with vehicular homicide

By: Molly Schramm CINCINNATI — The driver of a Metro bus who hit and killed an 87-year-old woman in Hyde Park in January is now facing criminal charges. Deon Willis was charged Tuesday with one count of vehicular homicide and four counts of vehicular manslaughter in relation to the death of Beverly Joanne Kinney, according to court records. On Jan. 11, CPD’s Traffic Unit was called to the intersection of Dana Avenue and Duck Creek Road near I-71 to investigate a fatal crash involving a Metro bus and a pedestrian. Police said Kinney was crossing Duck Creek Road at Dana Avenue on a marked crosswalk when a Metro bus, which was being driven by Deon Willis, turning onto Duck Creek Road hit her. After the fatal crash, the crash report said Willis “was found to be operating with a suspended driver’s license status.” Brandy Jones, senior vice president of external affairs for Metro said on Jan. 17 that a third-party company’s report sent to Metro determined the driver’s license was valid as of Jan. 4. Court records also showed that Willis had other traffic violations going back 20 years. Many of the charges were dismissed or ignored, but there were...