Bus driver charged in accident that killed 83-year-old man in Bucks County

Bucks County District Attorney Joe Khan on Monday announced charges against a shuttle-bus driver who fatally struck an 83-year-old man and then fled the scene, and confirmed an investigation into a second fatal hit by a driver working for the same nonprofit transportation service.

Separately, Khan said an investigation was opened into Bucks County Transport, the nonprofit that operated both buses.

Blair R. Vanacore, 69, of Jamison, is accused of fatally striking Ronald James Davenport on Aug. 12 in the parking lot of Grundy Hall, a retirement complex in Doylestown Township where Davenport lived.

Vanacore was charged with causing an accident involving death, a second-degree felony with a minimum three-year sentence in state prison. Vanacore also was charged with failing to give information or render aid, and careless driving involving unintentional death.

At a news conference Monday, Khan said Davenport “was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He was a graduate of Neshaminy High School who built a successful career in sales before retiring.”

Davenport “remained active in his church, enjoying his retirement and enjoying his family. He is survived by his wife, his four adult children, and their families,” Khan said.

On Aug. shortly before 9 p.m., Davenport was crossing a roadway within the Grundy Hall complex when he was hit by a 2024 Ford E450 Super Duty Bucks County Transport bus operated by Vanacore, Khan said.

Vanacore allegedly called 911 and reported that “someone fell in the parking lot,” the district attorney’s office said.

The shuttle bus’ driver-side tire hit Davenport, causing the bus to “lurch up in the air and come to a stop for a couple of seconds,” the DA’s office said. The rear driver-side tire then ran over Davenport, whose body was dragged several feet, Khan said.

Vanacore allegedly got out of the shuttle bus and briefly spoke to Davenport, Khan said. Vanacore allegedly then placed the 911 call, gathered Davenport’s belongings and placed them next to the man, then fled the scene.

Doylestown Township police quickly learned that night that Davenport was hit by a bus and called Vanacore back on his phone, asking him to return to the scene, Khan said.

“He stated that he believed he had run over a shoe, and also stated that the reason that he left rather than stay on the scene was that he believed he would get in trouble with the company if he did not return the bus to the depot by 10 o’clock that evening,” Khan said.

The second fatal accident under investigation involving a Bucks County Transport happened on Nov. 2 when Katherine “Kitty” Semisch, 67, was fatally struck by a DART bus outside the Bucks County Free Library in Doylestown Borough.

The district attorney’s office said that Bucks County Transport, which operates the DART system in Central Bucks County, does not currently require prior commercial driving experience or a commercial driver’s license.

Khan said Semisch “was a retired teacher here in the Central Bucks School District, where she spent her career at Central Bucks West, teaching for 26 years, beloved by all who knew her in and out of the classroom.”

Khan added: “During her retirement, she spent her time traveling and camping with her husband, spending time with her kids and her grandkids, and notably being active in her community, fighting for a better future for Bucks County children, even after she retired from teaching, as was memorialized in the recent PBS documentary series, Bucks County, USA.”

A spokesperson for Bucks County Transport could not be reached for comment.

On Nov. 5, the nonprofit’s CEO, James Raymond, issued a statement on the fatal accident that occurred three days earlier.

“Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of the victim during this difficult time. Any loss of life is tragic, and we recognize the stress this incident has caused our passengers and community,” Raymond said.

“The safety of our passengers, employees and the communities we serve remains BCT’s priority. We remain committed to providing safe, dependable transportation and maintaining the trust of those who rely on our services every day. As part of that commitment, BCT is reviewing safety policies and procedures to identify opportunities to further strengthen its operations and make traveling with BCT even safer,” Raymond said.

“Out of respect for the ongoing investigation, we will not be commenting any further at this time,” Raymond said.

Khan said his office is investigating the nonprofit “to figure out exactly what was going on with this company at the time of these deaths, what policies were in place that need to be reviewed,” and make sure “we have done everything that the people of Bucks County deserve to have somebody doing to ensuring that we’re not up here again” talking about another death.