EMBARK driver Cameron Cunningham, 26, has been charged with Second-Degree Manslaughter and Leaving the Scene of a Fatality Collision, according to law enforcement. An arrest warrant was issued on Monday.
According to the affidavit filed by the Oklahoma City Police Department, 61-year-old Steven Thomas attempted to board the bus around 5:00 p.m. on Sept. 10. However, Thomas was unsteady on his feet and Cunningham, believing Thomas to be intoxicated, refused service and drove away.
Thomas held on to the bus as it pulled away, lost his footing and fell under the rear wheels, causing severe trauma to his leg, groin and hip areas, the court records say.
An affidavit states that surveillance video from the bus reportedly shows Cunningham witnessing the incident and stopping to check on the man before calling his supervisor. Cunningham did not disclose to the supervisor that he had run over the man, instead claiming that Thomas had simply fallen into the road. His supervisor reportedly instructed him to continue with his route and said they would call the police about an intoxicated man who fell at the bus stop.
When EMSA arrived about half an hour later, Thomas was in critical condition. Medics on scene deemed Thomas to be in critical condition, and they told police he “coded” at least once while on the way to the hospital. Hospital records described in the affidavit say medical crews weren’t able to revive Thomas because of blood loss.
