Bus driver dies on job
A bus driver contracted to transport passengers for Fayette Area Coordinated Transportation (FACT) died from natural causes while working Wednesday. Officials said John Edward Eicholtz, 54, of Brownsville was found slumped in the driver’s seat of a bus parked at the Uniontown bus stop, located at the intersection of Beeson Boulevard and Church Street.
Uniontown police Patrolman Thomas Kolencik said a woman walking by noticed Eicholtz and called 911 at 2:38 p.m.
Kolencik said Eicholtz had last made contact with the bus company at 2:20 p.m.
When police arrived on scene, Kolencik said no passengers were on the bus and that the doors were shut. Kolencik said the bus door was pried open and that resuscitation efforts by Uniontown Fireman’s Ambulance personnel were unsuccessful.
Roger Victor, chief investigator for the Fayette County Coroner’s Office, said Deputy Coroner Paul Kondrla pronounced Eicholtz dead at 3 p.m.
According to Kolencik, FACT had contracted the bus company Eicholtz drove for to travel the Nemacolin route from the Chalk Hill / Farmington area and had just completed a trip.
Kolencik said Eicholtz appears to have died from natural causes, noting that there was nothing to indicate otherwise.
Victor said an autopsy has not been scheduled.
Uniontown police and fire departments assisted the coroner’s office at the scene.