Head-on SamTrans crash kills elderly couple

A man and woman killed when their van collided head-on with a San Mateo County Transit District bus Friday afternoon in San Mateo were identified today as 84-year-old Joseph Stivala and 79-year-old Anna Stivala, according to the San Mateo County coroner’s office.

The collision was reported around 12:45 p.m. near South El Camino Real and 12th Avenue, SamTrans spokeswoman Jayme Ackemann said.

Anna Stivala, a passenger in the van, was pronounced dead at the scene and Joseph Stivala, who was driving the vehicle, was transported to a hospital in critical condition but a short time later died of his injuries, Ackemann said.

Anna and Joseph Stivala were San Mateo residents, according to the coroner’s office.

Five bus passengers on the SamTrans bus were transported to a hospital for injuries not considered life-threatening, she said.