A tragic incident occurred in North Natomas on Monday morning as a man was fatally struck by a Sacramento Regional Transit (SacRT) shuttle bus. The Sacramento County Coroner's Office has identified the man as 64-year-old Muhammad Saddique. According to ABC10, the incident took place around 8:30 a.m. near the intersection of Banfield Drive and Club Center Drive. The precise circumstances leading to the tragedy remain unclear.
The vehicle involved in the accident was part of SacRT's SmaRT Ride service, a demand-responsive transportation option designed for shorter trips within the district's jurisdiction. The driver of the bus remained at the scene and is currently cooperating with the ongoing investigation. A City Councilmember and Sacramento Regional Transit board member, Lisa Kaplan spoke on the gravity of such incidents, emphasizing the importance of roadway safety in a statement obtained by CBS Sacramento. Kaplan extended her deepest condolences to Saddique's family and stressed the need for attentiveness while driving.
"Words cannot adequately address the heartache and tragedy that this accident has caused," said Kaplan. She further indicated that discussions with Sacramento Regional Transit's executive director and the Sacramento city manager had been initiated to explore methods of making the site of the collision safer for all. Kaplan linked recent events to a similar misfortune earlier in the year when a grandfather was struck and killed in the same location while bicycling, as reported by CBS Sacramento.
In her call to action, Kaplan not only grieved the loss but also pushed for a collective re-evaluation of road habits. "Every day when we get in our cars, we need to put our phones down," Kaplan said. "We need to slow down and be reminded that getting somewhere one minute faster isn't worth the death of an individual. We must look out for each other, our kids, our families, and our community." Her words serve as a stark reminder of the responsibilities that accompany the convenience of modern transportation, according to CBS Sacramento.
