Update: Transit Driver Claims Brake Failure in Fatal Totem Lake Crash

Editor's Note: For the latest update on this story, please see the following story:

State Patrol Seeks Witnesses to Fatal Kirkland Bus Accident

Update, May 7, 6:57 a.m.: The driver of a transit bus that struck a car in the Totem Lake area Monday night told police the brakes failed, the Washington State Patrol said.

WSP Trooper Julie Judson said the bus traveled about a half mile after failing to stop at a red light and colliding with a Ford Escape about 9:30 p.m. Two passengers in the Escape died, and the driver of the car, Kendall Rotta of Kirkland, remains in serious condition at Harborview Medical Center.

Judson said WSP is still investigating the cause of the crash, and has not yet verified whether the bus experienced equipment failure.

Several of the 35 passengers on the bus experienced very minor injuries, and one was transported to Evergreen Medical Center for evaluation, Judson said.

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Original story:

A bus exiting Interstate 405 at Totem Lake's HOV off-ramp collided with a car in the intersection of 128th Street Monday night, killing a Bellevue man who was a passenger and sending the driver and another passenger to Harborview.

The Washington State Patrol said that the bus was leaving the freeway about 9:30 last night and the car, a Ford Escape driven by Kendall Rotta, 51, of Kirkland, was traveling Eastbound on 128th when the two collided. Rotta was transported to Harborview, as was 75-year-old Elizabeth Rotta, of Bellevue. Elizabeth Rotta died at the hospital. A second passenger, 76-year-old Robert H. Rotta, also of Bellevue, died at the scene. All three were wearing seatbelts.

The bus was carrying 35 passengers at the time of the accident; WSP did not indicate if any of the passengers were injured in the crash, which is still under investigation. The bus driver, an Everett man, was injured when his airbag went off, but declined treatment. WSP said alcohol was not a factor in the collision.