State police are investigating a fatal crash at the Mohegan Sun Casino just after 4 p.m. on Wednesday.
Pui Yi Li, a 62-year-old casino worker from Elmhurst, New York, was struck and killed by a commercial bus near a public safety building at Mohegan Sun Boulevard, according to Lt. J. Paul Vance of Connecticut State Police.
Police said Lin Qi Si, 38, of Braintree, Massachusetts, was driving the bus that struck Li as she was crossing Sandy Desert Road. Li was transported to William W. Backus Hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries.
No charges have been filed and state police, as well as the Department of Motor Vehicles are investigating.
Dan Foley said he's driven in and around Mohegan Sun Casino and on the very street where the casino employee tragically died.
"It's very dangerous to drive around there because there are a lot of people coming out of the casino, drinking and everything else," said Foley.
The accident on Mohegan Sun Boulevard isn't the first of its kind.
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In 2004, a West Haven man was struck by a casino bus near the Boulevard and Sandy Desert. At the time, there was no crosswalk in the area.
Jean Wheelis' husband works at the casino and she said she goes right to the garage and into the facility, but thinks it might be different for other employees. As far as she's concerned, the area seems to be safe.
"I never seen a problem. I go there enough and have never had a problem going there," Wheelis said.
Another worker was killed by a hit-and-run driver in April 2008 while walking along Route 32 outside the casino. The driver ran a stop light and wasn't found until seven months later.
Jeffrey Socha was sentenced to six years in jail, suspended after 20 months and three years of probation.
Shortly after that crash, the tribal council picked up the cost of the estimated $2 million construction project to install sidewalks in the area. Wheelis said its an area she's never walk.
"I'd never walk down 32 because that would be dangerous to me," Wheelis said.
In a statement, a spokeswoman for Mohegan Sun said:
"We are deeply saddened by this loss and our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this time. We are working together with officials and aiding in every way possible to assist with the investigation of this tragedy."
