A harrowing incident took place on Thursday morning in Fitchburg, as a pedestrian was struck and pinned by a Montachusett Regional Transit Authority bus that crashed into the Fitchburg Intermodal Transportation Center terminal. Emergency services responded to the scene at around 7:48 a.m., where they found the bus lodged within the glass facade of the building, Boston 25 News reports.
The victim, a 65-year-old man, was "conscious and alert" when he was airlifted to the hospital but sustained "very serious" injuries, according to officials. Fitchburg Fire Deputy Chief Patrick Roy elaborated on the extraction, saying, "The crews performed quickly, using the airbags, electronic jaws, cribbing and we were able to free the victim pretty quickly," in an interview with 7NEWS. The nature, of his injuries were not disclosed, and his identity has yet to be released.
The accident prompted delays across all bus routes as crews worked to clear the transit depot. The transit authority, in a statement obtained by Boston 25 News, expressed their concern for the injured individual: "Our concern right now is for the individual that was injured in the accident and for their full recovery."
While the immediate cause of the crash remains unknown, investigators were on the scene conducting an examination of the vehicle's brakes and interviewing the driver. Fitchburg police are calling on anyone with information or who may have witnessed the accident to make contact at 978-345-9650, as they continue piecing together the events that led to this unfortunate crash, 7NEWS reported. The transportation center is situated near the Fitchburg State University campus and serves as a crucial hub for local and intercity bus connections as well as a stop on the MBTA commuter rail Fitchburg line.
