SANTA CRUZ — The Santa Cruz Metro bus driver who was injured in a crash at UC Santa Cruz earlier this month has died, his union and UCSC officials confirmed Sunday.
Dan Stevenson, a long-time Santa Cruz Metro bus operator, died after he was injured while driving a UC Santa Cruz Loop Bus on Dec. 12, a representative from SMART Local 0023 told the Sentinel. SMART Local 0023 is the union that represents Santa Cruz Metro bus operators and paratransit operators.
“I had the honor of working alongside Dan; he was a genuinely kind-hearted person dedicated to serving his community,” said James Sandoval, who worked as the general chairperson for the union before recently becoming international vice president for SMART, in a statement posted to Facebook. “Dan also showed unwavering dedication to his union, advocating for the rights of himself and his colleagues. He played a pivotal role during our 37-day strike in 2005, consistently offering his support wherever it was needed. The METRO family will deeply miss him.”
The UC Santa Cruz Loop Bus crashed into a historic lime kiln near the campus’ main entrance on Coolidge Drive about 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 12, injuring five student passengers and Stevenson, the driver. The bus was traveling down a hill on Coolidge Drive and left the road before it collided with the historic structure. The bus came to rest in a grassy area and the impact crumpled its front end.
“Our deepest condolences go out to his family and friends during this sad time,” wrote UCSC Chancellor Cynthia Larive and Campus Provost/Executive Vice Chancellor Lori Kletzer in an email message to the campus community.
“Dan served our community for more than 25 years as both a METRO driver and then a Campus Transit driver. He was a valued employee,” the message continued. “He was well respected by his colleagues and will be deeply missed by so many.”
In 2018, Stevenson wrote a Guest Commentary for the Sentinel arguing in favor of Measure M, a rent control measure.
“Many bus drivers like me, who can, work every day. I must work 28 days a month to balance my budget. I am currently working 68 of 71 consecutive days spanning from late July to early October,” he wrote. “Some guys have been working like that for decades and still can’t afford to raise a family. A big part of the reason is the comically high rents.”
According to UCSC’s campus message, Stevenson died Friday while the union stated he died Thursday.
UCSC spokesperson Scott Hernandez-Jason said the investigation into the crash is ongoing.