School bus driver cited but won't face felony charge in fatal accident

The driver of a school bus that struck and killed a 66-year-old woman last week in Bolingbrook failed to yield and exercise due care, authorities said Thursday.

After police reviewed the case with the Will County state's attorney's office, the bus driver, Judith A. Chitty of Romeoville, was given two traffic citations but faces no felony charges.

Chitty, 49, of 19 E. Romeo Road, was picking up children for summer school July 31. She made a right turn onto Boughton Road when her bus struck a woman who was in the crosswalk at Feather Sound Drive and Boughton, police said.

"It was an unfortunate accident," Bolingbrook police Lt. Chris Prochut said.

The victim, Marilyn A. Stark of Bolingbrook, was taken to Edward Hospital in Naperville, where she was pronounced dead.

Chitty and a first-grader from Bernard J. Ward Elementary School in Bolingbrook -- the only student on the bus -- were taken to the hospital for evaluation but did not suffer any physical injuries.

The driver has not returned to work since the accident but still is employed by the school district.

Margaret Firnstein, an attorney for Valley View Community Unit District 365U, said Chitty is receiving medical attention.

"The school board will be taking action to investigate it from their end and they express their condolences to the family and friends for this tragic accident," she said.

Firnstein said Chitty didn't have any drugs or alcohol in her system at the time of the accident. She has a court date scheduled for Sept. 19 in Will County.