D.C.’s Metro Settles Lawsuit for $2.3M

June 16, 2008

The Washington, D.C. Metro has agreed to pay $2.3 million to settle a lawsuit with the family of a woman who was struck and killed by a Metrobus.

Martha Schoenborn and her friend Sally McGhee were killed in February 2007. The women were in a crosswalk and had the “walk” signal to cross Pennsylvania Avenue when they were struck.

The Metrobus driver, Victor Kolako, pleaded guilty in September to two felony counts of negligent homicide. In December, he was sentenced to a year in jail.

Schoenborn’s husband, Greg, says he hopes Metro will hire better drivers, enforce tougher safety rules and punish drivers who behave recklessly, regardless if anyone is hurt.

Metro spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein says the agency has made safety improvements.