Man, 69, hit by school bus in Rancho Penasquitos was gravely injured’

A 69-year-old man was gravely injured Tuesday when a school bus struck him as he was walking his dogs in Rancho Penasquitos, authorities reported.

The Poway Unified School District vehicle — occupied only by its 76-year-old driver — hit the pedestrian at Paseo Montalban and Via Cima Bella at about 8:30 a.m., according to the San Diego Police Department.

Moments later, an SDPD officer driving through the neighborhood east of Black Mountain Road and south of Carmel Mountain Road came upon the scene of the accident, pulled over and performed CPR on the unconscious victim.

Paramedics arrived a short time later, assumed the lifesaving efforts and took the man to Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla for treatment of major head trauma, Sgt. Saum Poorsaleh said.

“The pedestrian was transported to a local hospital to be treated for a skull fracture, subdural hematoma, multiple rib fractures and a bilateral pulmonary contusion,” SDPD said in a statement. “The injuries are considered life-threatening.”

The pedestrian’s dogs were unharmed, as was the bus driver, according to police.

It was not immediately clear who might have been at fault in the crash, which left a stretch of Paseo Montalban closed for about three hours. However, investigating officers quickly ruled out intoxicated driving as a potential factor, the sergeant said.