No charges after bus hits woman near mall in Cedar Rapids

Police said a city bus driver will not be charged after his bus struck a pedestrian Friday near Lindale Mall.

Police said John Droghammer, 29, of Cedar Rapids, was driving the bus when it struck Margaret Ferreter, 55, of Cedar Rapids, on the south side of the mall, near Bank of the West. A witness told police the Droghammer stopped at the stop sign before turning east and hitting Feretter, who was walking north across the street.

Sgt. Cristy Hamblin said Ferreter suffered severe internal injuries. She was taken by ambulance to St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids and later flown to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Hamblin said Ferreter was still in the hospital Monday, but investigators had not gotten word on her condition.

“She's alive,” Hamblin said.

Police said no charges will be filed in the accident. Because it happened on private property, charges are only possible if the driver was intoxicated or driving recklessly, and neither were the case, Hamblin said.

There was no indication in the police report how fast the bus was traveling at the time of the accident, Hamblin said.

Ferreter is an employee at the Sears store at the mall, employees said.