Published 16 Feb, 2014
TWU Local 100 lost a hard-working family man when New York City Transit Bus Operator William Pena, 49, was killed in the line of duty early on the morning of February 12, after a stolen truck slammed into his M-14 Manhattan crosstown bus. Pena was taking his bus across 7th Avenue on 14th Street in the Chelsea district when Domonic Whilby, 22, who was drunk, crashed a large truck into Pena’s articulated bus.
Both vehicles wound up careening into the side of a building. Pena was ejected through the driver’s side window and was pronounced dead by responding FDNY Paramedics. Whilby suffered minor injuries and was taken to Bellevue Hospital where he was arrested. He was later charged with manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property, criminal trespass, criminal mischief and felony assault.
Local 100 Secretary-Treasurer Earl Phillips responded to the accident scene along with MABSTOA’s Bus Officers and the Local 100 safety team to address the media and investigate the crash. Local 100 officers, led by Manhattan Division Chair Richard Davis, then met Brother Pena’s grieving wife and daughter at Michael J. Quill Bus Depot on the west side of Manhattan.
TWU International Executive Vice President and Local 100 President John Samuelsen went on to hold a shop gate at Quill Depot with Brother Pena’s fellow Bus Operators. Samuelsen later told the press: “The Mike Quill Depot is in a real state of mourning right now. A lot of tears are being shed. This is incredibly dangerous work and this exemplifies the dangers workers face day in and day out.”
“The entire MTA mourns the tragic loss of Mr. Pena, especially his colleagues,” said MTA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Thomas F. Prendergast. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Pena’s family.” So are those of all TWU members today. The MTA has given approval for a bus coming from each depot in New York City to be part of a funeral procession for the slain driver, which is expected to take place on Wednesday.
In the meantime, TWU Local 100 is directing members to a website to make donations for the family and also to contribute to the union’s Widows and Orphans Fund, which was created to support dependents of deceased Local 100 members. At the time of his death, Brother Pena was working to finance his daughter’s education; she is now a senior in high school. The Fund currently aids about a dozen children of members who died on the job, several of whom are beginning to work their way through college.