Bank of America worker hit in crosswalk by Peter Pan bus.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A 30-year-old Cumberland woman on her way to work Wednesday morning was killed when a Peter Pan bus struck her in a crosswalk in Kennedy Plaza and dragged her 50 to 60 feet.

Providence police identified the victim as Michelle Cagnon.

Cagnon was a Bank of America employee for nine years, according to company spokesman Trevor Koenig. According to Cagnon's Facebook page and LinkedIn profile, she was a 2004 graduate of Burrillville High School and studied at the New England College of Business and Finance.

“We are deeply saddened to hear about Michelle’s passing," Koenig said Wednesday. "Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends at this difficult time.”

Cagnon was walking east on Washington Street, in front of the Alex and Ani City Center ice skating rink, when she stepped into the crosswalk to cross East Approach a little after 8 a.m., according to Public Safety Commissioner Steven M. Paré.

"Lady was in the crosswalk," said witness Charles Parker, "looked up, screamed as she got run over."

"The minute she got into the middle of the crosswalk, Peter Pan came around and just hit her," said another witness, Michael "Casey" Lee, of Dartmouth, Mass. "All you heard was the smack, and that was it."

Paré said that a Peter Pan bus turning left from Washington Street to East Approach struck Cagnon. "It appears that this person was in the crosswalk," he said.

Paré said that the accident was caught on several cameras in Kennedy Plaza. "We're looking at all the cameras to reconstruct what happened."

"Chaosness" is how Brandon Hong, of Pawtucket, who arrived on a bus moments after the accident, described the scene in the immediate aftermath.

Several witnesses, including Parker and Jason Gomes, of Providence, said that passersby had to flag down the bus driver to tell him that he had hit someone.

A Providence park ranger working in the area witnessed the accident and alerted emergency personnel. Police Maj. Thomas A. Verdi said that no one chased the bus.

Providence police identified the bus driver as Matthew J. Reidy of Taunton, Mass.

Christopher Crean, vice president for safety and security for Peter Pan Bus Lines, said Reidy was en route from Hyannis, Mass., to Providence. Five passengers were on the bus.

Crean said Reidy "would have stopped at Kennedy Plaza, which is a pick-up/drop off area for us, and then proceeded to the Providence terminal," off Route 95 at the Pawtucket line. "He would have had a layover at the Providence terminal, and then driven the 9:45 a.m. route back to Hyannis," Crean said.

No charges have been brought against Reidy at this time, Crean said. Reidy underwent a legally required drug and alcohol test after the accident, "which so far was negative."

Reidy has been put on temporary leave, "for his sake, and for the sake of the investigation," Crean said. He added that Peter Pan Bus Lines is "working very closely with state and local police" in the investigation.

"This driver is a stellar driver. He has a really good record with the company, and has been here a little over a year," Crean said. "Before you go on board with Peter Pan, we do vet our drivers, and they have to do a six-to eight-week training program."

Crean said, "This is a very tragic accident. Today was a tragic day for the family of victim and for the driver as well. We're just going to try and deal with it in the most professional and sympathetic way. Our sympathy goes to the family, as well as our driver."

Reidy was not physically injured, "but he was very distraught, very upset about the whole incident," Crean said. "He had some professional counseling through the police department, and in-house here as well, and we do have follow-up."

Crean said state police inspected the bus, and found "no problems with it." It was released.

Crean said Peter Pan Bus Lines scored a 'satisfactory' — the highest possible score — in a federal inspection "three or four months ago."

Providence Bus Accidents

2016

Aug. 24: Cumberland woman is killed when she is hit by a Peter Pan bus at Kennedy Plaza.

Aug. 13: A man was injured after he slipped while chasing a Rhode Island Public Transit Authority bus that had just departed from the Manton Avenue Stop & Shop. Police said his leg was run over by a rear tire.

May 9: Driver and eight passengers taken to hospital after RIPTA bus struck bus shelter near the East Side bus tunnel. Driver cited for road lane violation.

March 2: RIPTA driver and four passengers taken to Rhode Island Hospital after bus ran onto Francis Street sidewalk and hit a light post near junction of Francis and Gaspee streets. Driver cited for roadway violation.

2015

March 26: Ani Emdjian, 9, killed when struck by RIPTA bus on Smith Hill. Driver cleared after investigation.

Sept. 16: Pedestrian struck by RIPTA bus in Kennedy Plaza suffers non-life-threatening injuries.

2014

May 28: Court security guard Frank McKnight, 69, of North Kingstown was struck by a RIPTA bus in Washington Street crosswalk near Kennedy Plaza, and died the next day.

Nov. 10: RIPTA bus struck a 56-year-old woman as she attempted to cross Angell Street at Wayland Avenue.

—pparker@providencejournal.com

(401) 277-7360

On Twitter: @projopaul

—kziner@providencejournal.com

(401) 277-7375

On Twitter: @karenleez