Tour bus driver charged with involuntary manslaughter in death of Alaska mayor, Washington woman

WASHINGTON – District of Columbia police on Thursday arrested the driver of a tour bus in connection with the deaths of two tourists who were struck and killed last week as they crossed Pennsylvania Avenue in downtown Washington.

Gerard Derrick James, 45, of Baltimore, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter. It was not immediately clear if he faced one or two counts. He could make an appearance in D.C. Superior Court later Thursday or Friday.

The arrest comes eight days after Monica Adams Carlson, 61, and her mother, Cora Louise Adams, 85, were struck as they crossed the street.

Police have said that Carlson, who was the mayor of Skagway, Alaska, and Adams, who lived in Elbe, Washington, had a walk signal when the incident happened.

The mother and daughter had traveled to Washington to visit the White House and see Christmas decorations, which they did hours before they were struck. They also visited Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia to honor their son and grandson, a Marine who served in Afghanistan.

The incident occurred about 9:40 p.m. on Dec. 19. James was driving a 2013 Provost H3 bus that had no passengers. It was operated by Maryland-based Eyre Bus, Tour & Travel. Melanie Hinton, a spokeswoman for the American Bus Association, said last week the driver had 18 years of experience.

Few other new details have been made public, though additional information is expected once the arrest affidavit is unsealed and James appears in court.