'U' to pay for bus driver's defense

By David Enders

Daily Staff Reporter

Washtenaw County prosecutors have filed charges against the student who was at the wheel of a University commuter bus when it struck and killed a woman in September.

Daryl Cain, 22, could face up to two years in prison if convicted of negligent manslaughter in the Sept. 11 death of 48-year-old Medical Center secretary Janis Marchyok.

The bus Cain was driving struck Marchyok as she crossed Glen Avenue on the way to her car from her office in the University Medical Center.

A not guilty plea was entered on Cain's behalf at his arraignment in court Friday. Cain is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Nov. 29, and the University has hired a lawyer to defend him.

"Based upon an investigation by our Office of Risk Management, we are not aware of any facts that support this charge," University spokeswoman Julie Peterson said. "Mr. Cain deserves the presumption of innocence."

Cain had worked as a University bus driver since 1998. According to court documents, he received two traffic violations in the past three years, although not while on duty for the University - one for speeding in 1997 and a ticket for failing to yield the right of way on May 16 of this year.

Cain was turning right from Catherine Street onto northbound Glen. About 20 students were on the bus, but it is unclear if any of them witnessed the accident.