Bellevue Man, Woman Dead after Sound Transit Bus Hits SUV

Update, May 7 9:42 a.m.: The driver of a Sound Transit bus that struck a car in the Totem Lake area Monday night told police the brakes failed, the Washington State Patrol said.

WSP Trooper Julie Judson said the bus traveled about a half mile after failing to stop at a red light and colliding with a Ford Escape about 9:30 p.m. Two passengers in the Escape died, and the driver of the car, Kendall Rotta of Kirkland, remains in serious condition at Harborview Medical Center.

Judson said WSP is still investigating the cause of the crash, and has not yet verified whether the bus experienced equipment failure.

Several of the 35 passengers on the bus experienced very minor injuries, and one was transported to Evergreen Medical Center for evaluation, Judson said.

Original story:

A Bellevue man and woman who were passengers in an SUV died after a Sound Transit bus exiting Interstate 405 at Totem Lake's HOV off-ramp collided with the vehicle in the intersection of 128th Street Monday night.

The Washington State Patrol said that the Sound Transit bus was leaving the freeway about 9:30 p.m. and the car, a Ford Escape driven by Kendall Rotta, 51, of Kirkland, was traveling Eastbound on 128th when the two collided. Rotta was transported to Harborview, as was 75-year-old Elizabeth Rotta, of Bellevue. Elizabeth Rotta later died at Harborview. A second passenger, 76-year-old Robert H. Rotta, also of Bellevue, died at the scene. All three were wearing seatbelts.

The bus was carrying 35 passengers at the time of the accident. WSP did not indicate if any of the passengers were injured in the crash, which is still under investigation. WSP said alcohol was not a factor in the collision.

Editor's Note: This article has been corrected.