Bus kills Monterey pedestrian

Monterey resident Sam Conboy died on Sept. 17, a day after he was hit by an MST Bus downtown. Conboy had been trying to cross Pacific Street at Del Monte at 6 a.m. on Sept. 16 when the collision occurred. He was 87 years old.

The Monterey Police Department is investigating the incident and released the identity of the bus driver as Taylor Norisett, 49, of Seaside.

A friend of Conboy's, Norma Valdez, 33, was at the site of the accident on Sept. 19 to leave flowers. She and her family members tied black ribbons around the traffic light posts and made a poster in Conboy's memory with the words "Slow down" in big letters.

"I just want people to know that a lot of elderly people live here," she said. "Just give them time to cross."

Valdez said she met Conboy years ago when she worked at the old Bay Books downtown and Conboy came in three times a day to drink double espressos.

"He was the nicest man you would ever meet," she said.

Conboy came to Monterey to retire over 30 years ago, Valdez said. He lived on Van Buren Street and frequented downtown restaurants.