Mechanical problem blamed for fatal Vancouver party bus incident

The Vancouver Police say they will not be recommending criminal charges in a fatal party bus incident that left a 23-year-old woman dead in January.

Chelsea Lynn Mist James from Langley was killed when she fell from a moving party bus at Burrard and West Hastings Street on Jan. 9.

The driver had made a left turn to go south on Burrard Street when James lost her balance and stumbled into the stairwell against the pneumatic passenger door. The door opened and she fell out of the bus. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

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The bus was operated by Silver Lady Limousine Service. In a statement in January, its owner Douglas Lemoine expressed his “deepest sympathies.”

The owner and the driver of the vehicle have been fined under the Motor Vehicle Act and are still subject to potential civil action.

The investigation was conducted by officers with the VPD Collision Investigation Unit and VPD Commercial Vehicle Unit.

It was determined that a mechanical malfunction and low operating pressure with the pneumatic door were the main contributing factors in James’ death.