An 89-year-old man struck and killed by a school bus in Fairfax County had worked for decades as a college school bus driver in South Korea, News4’s Pat Collins reported.
Joon Seok Ahn was in a crosswalk on Columbia Pike in Annandale, Va., heading home from a dry cleaner when a school bus that had been stopped in the southbound turn lanes of Gallows Road struck him about 2:30 p.m. Sept. 21. Ahn was taken to a hospital and died overnight.
“It was just devastating to go to the hospital and know that there was nothing that any of us could do for him at that point, so we just sat by him and watched him go,” said his granddaughter Sarah Ahn.
No one was injured on the bus, which was carrying students from Falls Church High School.
Ahn never had an accident in a 50-year career driving buses, his granddaughter told Collins. He was taking care of his 86-year-old wife of 66 years, who is in poor health. He moved here in 1997 and had two children, four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren and was a badminton player. He attended a daily prayer service and jogged at least a mile a day.
Although he was 89-years-old, he was in great health and they anticipated him living several more years, Collins reported.
The driver of the school bus that struck Ahn, 30-year-old Cristina Fernandez, was charged with failure to pay time and attention -- a $30 fine. Sarah Ahn said that’s not nearly enough.
“She killed a man,” Sarah Ahn said. “I don’t know what else to say to that. She killed my grandfather.”
Police are still investigating. More charges are possible, police said.
Fernandez was placed on leave. She has driven buses for 11 years and had an excellent record with Fairfax County Public Schools, an official said.
Ahn’s granddaughter said the family has not received an apology from the school district.
