Boyfriend of mother killed in bus shelter crash calls for better protection for passengers

BREMERTON, Wash. – Tommy Williamson said he is still struggling to cope after his girlfriend was killed in a crash while she waited at a Kitsap Transit bus shelter.

County prosecutors say Calob Courtney from Seabeck admitted to police that he smoked marijuana and methamphetamine before crashing his car into two people in early September, killing one.



A 63-year-old man suffered serious injuries in the accident but Margaret “Maggie” Parnell lost her life. Williamson said the two have been together for several years, now he’s asking Kitsap Transit to consider strengthening physical barriers at bus stops in the area.

“This is what I need to do to help grieve,” he said. “I know Maggie would want that so nobody else would have to deal with this.”

Kitsap Transit has not yet rebuilt the bus stop. Williamson hopes the agency will include stronger barricades to prevent passengers from getting hurt if another accident happens.

“That shelter’s not a protection, that shelter’s just glass waiting to go anywhere,” he said. “I just want to prevent anybody else’s stupid mistakes from harming and devastating anybody else’s life.”

Kitsap Transit spokesperson Sanjay Bhat sent Q13 News a statement that read in part:

“We will reach out to other agencies to see whether there are any new types of shelters in use that could provide bus riders with a higher degree of protection than current standards,” the letter said. “Kitsap Transit intends to acknowledge Parnell in some way when it installs a new bus shelter.”

Williamson hopes the agency comes up with a plan soon before anyone else gets hurt in a crash.

“Something to stop these freak accidents from happening so no other family has to go through this crap,” Williamson said.

Courtney faces felony vehicular assault and homicide charges and is currently being held in jail on $500,000 bail.