Ex-NJ Transit Bus Driver Who Ran Over Passenger Sentenced To Prison

Newark NJ

21 June, 2022

5:02 PM

Description

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Kevin Thomas died a "Good Samaritan," authorities say. On Tuesday, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office announced that Fayola Howard, 36, a former NJ Transit bus driver from Bloomfield, has been sentenced to five years in state prison for fatally striking a passenger – Thomas – near Sanford Avenue and Mt. Vernon Place in Newark on New Year's Eve in 2019. Thomas, 55, of Newark, died from his injuries on Jan. 6, 2020. Prosecutors released the following statement about Thomas' death: "On May 6, Howard entered a guilty plea admitting she caused the death of Thomas on Dec. 31, 2019, while operating a NJ Transit bus. Thomas stepped off the bus to give a pocketbook to a woman who had left her pocketbook on the bus. When he attempted to return to the front door of the bus, Howard closed the door on Thomas's arm. Rather than release him, Howard pulled away from the stop, dragging Thomas, even as he and other passengers yelled for her to stop the bus. The bus then turned right, at which point Thomas came free from the bus, fell, and the bus ran him over." Police arrested Howard on Feb. 18, 2020 as she was attempting to board a plane at Newark Airport, authorities said. Howard was convicted of reckless vehicular homicide, leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, and tampering with records. According to prosecutors, Howard must serve 85 percent of her sentence before she eligible for parole. The Trinidad native is expected to face deportation proceedings following the completion of her sentence. "Mr. Thomas was a kind and generous man who died acting as a good Sarmatian trying to help a stranger," said Assistant Prosecutor Adam Wells, who handled the case. "While the vehicular homicide statute limits the sentence in these cases, I hope this sentence can bring the family some sense of justice," Wells added. Send local news tips and correction requests to [email protected]. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site.