Here's the article in full. It's the only one. The PG and the Tribune Review haven't written a story about it as far as I can tell. It's a strong argument for mandatory vaccination at work. And yes the sister is right the company could have saved his life. Keep in mind that all the bus drivers got sick. Were any of them vaccinated?
Transit bus driver dies of COVID Family places some blame on BTA
Nathan BottigerEagle Staff Writer
September 27, 2021 Local News
A local bus driver has died due to COVID-19, and his family believes the Butler Transit Authority should shoulder some of the blame.
Adam Fry, 38, of Cabot, died Friday “after a brief but courageous battle with COVID-19,” according to his obituary (Page 6). His death comes days after the authority canceled bus routes due to most of its drivers being ill.
“He absolutely loved his passengers,” said his sister, Jamie Gross of Brackenridge. “He loved the people he would meet along the way.”
Gross described her brother, a 2001 graduate of Knoch High School, as a quiet, laid-back person, who was passionate about his family, his church and his job. She said many of his passengers have reached out about services, which according to his obituary, will come later.
“It's been overwhelming how many people have showed how much they cared about him,” Gross said.
Risks on the job
In an interview Sunday, Gross said the transit authority's leadership should take some of the blame for the current situation.
“I think the transit authority could have taken things more seriously,” she said.
Fry's aunt, Deborah Billings, of Portugal, formerly of Butler, said she has been gathering information about her nephew's illness and death.
Billings said Fry had recently decided to get vaccinated, but he never had the opportunity to carry through with it.
“If he had been required or highly urged to be vaccinated for his clients or himself, I think he would have come to that decision sooner,” Billings said.
Billings said the authority did not adequately enforce the mask mandate. She said other forms of protections were also lacking.
“The piece of plexiglass behind the driver's back did next to nothing to protect them,” she said.
Collapsed on job
Billings said the worst transgression was the lack of recognition that Fry was sick. She said Fry was called in on his day off Sept. 18, and he collapsed on the job. She said a couple of days later, Fry was taken to the hospital and intubated.
“I just think it's a pretty crappy deal all the way around,” she said. “A lot of people dropped the ball there, starting with work.”
Billings said her nephew loved his job, and if they asked him to do more, then he would have.
“His job was his life,” she said. “He was so proud to be a bus driver.”
When called Sunday, John Paul, the transit authority's executive director, said he had no comment about these allegations.
On Saturday, Paul acknowledged the death of the employee, who had been working for the authority through a subcontractor, MV Transportation.
Paul said he was saddened by the loss.
“He was a 38-year-old young man. He was a great employee and very dedicated to his job,” he said. “It's a shame.”
Route suspensions
On Wednesday, the transit authority announced the suspension of all routes because nine of its 10 local drivers were ill.
The notice did not say whether the “illnesses” drivers were suffering from was specifically COVID-19; however, in interviews with local television crews, Paul noted that nine of the 10 local drivers had tested positive for COVID-19.
The authority's website may provide some insight into the time line of its outbreak, as it posted irregular updates two to three times a month throughout the summer.
Starting with the Sept. 19 announcement of a stoppage of a couple routes, there were six new updates in the days that followed.
In its latest post Friday, the authority announced local routes 1 and 3 will partially resume Tuesday, but trips 9, 10 and 11 will still be out of service.
“(The transit authority) will reinstate additional routes as soon as possible. Continue to check our website for updates,” the statement said. “Please continue to keep all those still affected in your thoughts and prayers.”
