No charges in fatal party bus

Photo: Facebook - Chelsea James

No charges will be recommended by police after the investigation into the death of 23-year-old woman on a party bus last January concluded.

Chelsea Lynn Mist James, a beloved assistant teacher, was riding on a party bus with 27 friends in Vancouver on the evening of Jan. 9.

The bus made a turn onto Burrard Street from West Hastings, knocking James off balance sending her into the bus door.

The door flung open, and James fell onto the street. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Vancouver Police Department's Investigation Unit and Commercial Vehicle Unit conducted a nine-month investigation into the fatal incident, which included a full mechanical inspection of the of the bus.

“It was determined that a mechanical malfunction and low operating pressure with the pneumatic door were the main contributing factors in the fatality,” said the VPD in a statement.

Despite the mechanical malfunction, the VPD says they will not be recommending criminal charges, but the owner and driver of the bus have been fined under the Motor Vehicle Act.

They are still subject to any potential civil action.

After her death, James' family said she was a kind and responsible woman.

“She was a sweetheart. She had a head on her shoulders, wasn’t a wild person by any means,” James’ grandmother, Marie Taylor, told CTV News. “Her parents adored her and they had a family that was very close and loved each other dearly.”