started · updated
Poway Unified School District sued after school bus kills retired nurse
The widow of a retired California nurse, Cindy Steiner, has filed a lawsuit against the Poway Unified School District following the death of her husband, Rene Steiner. Rene Steiner, 69, was struck by a school bus on March 10 while walking his dogs in the Rancho Peñasquitos neighborhood of San Diego.
According to court documents, the bus was operated by 76-year-old Richard Kraft. The lawsuit alleges that the driver was speeding and failed to make a complete stop at the intersection before turning into Steiner's path. Steiner suffered severe injuries, including a skull fracture and pulmonary contusions, and died 18 days later on March 28.
Attorneys for the Steiner family claim the accident was exacerbated by district policies that encourage bus drivers to use small residential streets as shortcuts to avoid traffic congestion. The legal action seeks justice for the family and a change in district driving policies.
Entities
Cindy Steiner · Poway Unified School District · Rancho Peñasquitos · Rene Steiner · Richard Kraft
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The bus was empty at the time of the accident. timesofsandiego.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The lawsuit seeks justice and aims to change Poway Unified policies that encourage bus drivers to use residential streets as shortcuts. offthepress.com · timesofsandiego.com · nypost.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The bus driver was allegedly speeding down Via Cima Bella at the time of the incident. offthepress.com · timesofsandiego.com · nypost.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Rene Steiner died on March 28, 2026, from injuries sustained in the collision. offthepress.com · nypost.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The school bus was operated by 76-year-old Richard Kraft. offthepress.com · timesofsandiego.com · nypost.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The driver allegedly failed to make a complete stop at the intersection before turning. offthepress.com · timesofsandiego.com · nypost.com