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Seven months after a catastrophic bus crash left three people dead and dozens more injured, the rookie OC Transpo driver who slammed into Westboro Station was charged with 38 counts of dangerous driving.

While police have answered whether they believe Aissatou Diallo was at fault for the crash, questions remain throughout the city about how it happened and why.

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This week, after consultations with both local and Toronto prosecutors and an extensive investigation that saw collision investigators interview more than 100 people and inspect the bus and transitway, the decision was made to lay charges.

After agreeing to turn herself in, Diallo, 42, was charged on Friday with three counts of dangerous driving causing death and 35 counts of dangerous driving causing bodily harm.

“I know that this is likely difficult news for many people to hear,” interim Chief Steve Bell told reporters at a press conference. “I want to express my deepest condolences to all of those who had their lives changed on that tragic day. You were always top of mind as this investigation progressed.”

Bell said collision investigators worked relentlessly to assess a mass of information to determine the cause of a crash “that impacted our entire community.” He said he knows the city continues to grieve.

On Jan. 11, Diallo was behind the wheel of a westbound double-decker bus on Route 269 heading from downtown to Kanata’s Bridlewood neighbourhood. At 3:50 p.m., the bus smashed into an overhang at Westboro Station, which sliced through the upper level of the double-decker.

Three people — Bruce Thomlinson, 56, Judy Booth, 57, and Anja Van Beek, 65 — were killed and dozens were injured, some with horrific wounds that would later prompt amputations.

Police said the 90-passenger bus, travelling during the rush-hour commute, was almost at capacity. Diallo was arrested at the scene for allegedly not co-operating with police and she was questioned before police released her later that evening.