YORK COUNTY, Pa. — A York County woman pled guilty on Tuesday to multiple charges following the 2022 death of a 16-year-old Northeastern student who was struck while boarding a school bus.
Marie C. McGahan, 26, from Red Lion, pled guilty to homicide by vehicle, meeting/overtaking a school bus, careless driving- unintentional death, careless driving and failing to comply with a license restriction.
On Oct. 26, 2022, McGahan struck Arianna Landis, who later died of her injuries. According to witnesses, McGahan was traveling toward the bus in the opposing traffic lane when she struck Landis, who was walking toward the bus to board it.
A witness who was driving behind McGahan for several miles prior to the crash told police that McGahan's vehicle was not speeding, but said he could clearly see the bus and its warning lights prior to the crash. McGahan did not appear to apply her brakes, nor did she attempt any evasive maneuvers prior to striking the pedestrian, the witness told police.
McGahan submitted to field sobriety tests and an evaluation by a certified drug recognition expert and showed no signs of drug or alcohol impairment, police said.
According to police, McGahan said she had only slept about two or three hours the previous night and that she "must have been distracted."
McGahan was not wearing corrective or contact lenses, which was a restriction on her driver's license, police claim.
