Investigation Underway After Chibeza Nyirenda Jr Died After Collision With RTA Bus in Downtown Riverside by Chicago Avenue and 12th Street
RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA (November 14, 2025) – A 28-year-old man identified as Chibeza Nyirenda Jr has tragically died in a Riverside RTA bus accident at Chicago Avenue and 12th Street.
Riverside County officials are saying that the accident took place around 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday. A pedestrian identified as Chibeza Nyirenda Jr was walking when he was hit by an RTA bus as it was pulling away.
Paramedics were called to the scene of the accident to help the victim. He was unconscious and seriously injured by the time first responders arrived.
Chibeza Nyirenda Jr was taken to Riverside Community Hospital with critical injuries. Sadly, he was pronounced dead at the hospital roughly 45 minutes after being admitted.
A full investigation into the Riverside bus accident remains ongoing at this time.
Liability for Riverside Bus Accidents
Buses are considered common carriers in the state of California. They’re expected to exercise a great deal of caution to avoid injuring their customers and pedestrians on the roadway. According to Acosta v. Southern California Rapid Transit Dist., “Common carriers bind themselves to carry safely those whom they take into their vehicles, and owe both a duty of utmost care and the vigilance of a very cautious person towards their passengers. Such carriers are responsible for any, even the slightest, negligence and are required to do all that human care, vigilance, and foresight reasonably can do under all the circumstances.” Bus drivers should take several actions to avoid hitting pedestrians.
- Speed: Bus drivers should reduce their speed in areas where pedestrians are likely to congregate, particularly near bus stops.
- Caution: Bus drivers should treat the actions of all pedestrians as unpredictable. Pedestrians can make unexpected movements, and bus drivers must account for this.
- Blind Spots: Bus drivers should check their blind spots before turning and other critical movements. All commercial buses have large blind spots that can obscure the presence of pedestrians, especially in the front and sides of the bus.
- Avoid Distractions: Bus drivers should avoid distractions from electronic devices and speaking with other passengers.
Bus drivers must exercise due care to avoid colliding with a pedestrian in the roadway. Pursuant to California Civil Code 21954, the driver of a vehicle must use caution to safeguard the well-being of any pedestrian in the roadway. If a bus driver fails to slow down to avoid colliding with any pedestrian, this can serve as evidence of negligence. The company or municipal entity that a bus driver worked for could also be held at fault. As a general principle, employers in California can be vicariously liable for the wrongful actions of their employees who were operating within the course and scope of their job duties.
Steps to Take After Riverside Bus Accidents
Thousands of pedestrians are killed or seriously injured every year in car accidents. According to the United States Department of Transportation, “On average, a pedestrian died every 72 minutes and one was injured every 8 minutes in traffic crashes in 2023. 18% of all traffic deaths in 2023 were pedestrians, and 3% of all people injured in traffic crashes were pedestrians.” Many of these collisions involve trucks and commercial buses. Several actions should be taken after any pedestrian accident involving a bus.
- Medical Evaluation: Victims should seek a thorough medical evaluation, even if they feel alright after a bus accident. The nature of a person’s injuries from a bus accident may not be immediately apparent.
- Police Response: The police should be called to the scene as soon as possible so that they can begin an investigation.
- Evidence Preservation: All of the evidence associated with the accident should be carefully collected and preserved. Many photos of the accident site should be taken. Surveillance footage that may have captured the accident should also be sought.
- Bus Records: Records related to the maintenance of the bus should also be examined. When buses are not adequately maintained, they are more susceptible to breaking down.
- Legal Review: Any person affected by a bus accident should have the accident independently reviewed by a team with ample experience in tort claims.
The vast majority of bus accidents are totally preventable. They tend to involve bus drivers that are not adequately scanning the road ahead of them. Younger bus drivers with less experience are more likely to be involved in serious crashes. Unfortunately, bus companies will virtually never accept responsibility when their drivers cause an accident. This is why it is so important that these incidents are carefully examined and reviewed by an outside party.
Investigating Riverside Bus Accidents
We at Carrazco Law extend our deepest condolences to the family of Chibeza Nyirenda Jr. Any person who may have more information about the accident should reach out to the Riverside Police Department. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong. Many questions remain unanswered at this time. What is the safety record of the bus driver? Is there a history of pedestrian accidents near this intersection?
Do you need more information about a Riverside bus accident? Our team of bus accident investigators is here for you. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that bus companies are held accountable for their negligence. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any particular accident, we are here to serve your needs. You are always welcome to reach out to us anytime at (800) 541-3244.
