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A woman struck by an RTA bus near Public Square died, according to the medical examiner's office. An RTA review committee determined the crash was preventable.

(Courtney Astolfi)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- An RTA accident review committee determined a fatal December bus crash that killed a pedestrian in Public Square was preventable.

The bus driver has not faced criminal charges as of Friday afternoon, according to Cleveland Municipal Court documents. The driver was initially suspended, but she was fired Jan. 23, RTA spokeswoman Linda Krecic said.

Joan Kuendig, 69, of Shaker Heights, was struck by an RTA bus about 7:30 a.m. Dec. 7 as she crossed the street outside Key Tower. The bus made a left turn onto Rockwell Avenue from East Roadway, police previously said.

The review committee determined that the bus driver failed to come to a complete stop before she turned onto Rockwell, Krecic says. The driver did, however, slow down before the turn.

Kuendig was rushed to MetroHealth, but she died Dec. 29.

The Cleveland City Prosecutor's office reviewed the case and referred it to a grand jury to consider charges. A Cleveland police spokesman said last month that a hearing date had not yet been set by the county.

In November, the city said it would continue to prohibit buses from traveling through the square, and they would instead travel along the square's outer perimeter.

Mayor Frank Jackson's office maintains that allowing buses through the square would put children and other pedestrians using the space at risk. The Jackson administration also has argued that opening Superior Avenue to bus traffic may confuse drivers.

However, opponents of Jackson's plan have argued that routing buses around the perimeter would be more problematic, as it would require buses to make more left turns, which are generally considered more dangerous.

Police said Kuendig was crossing the street legally when she was struck.

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