In an unfortunate incident on Friday night, a SEPTA bus struck a couple crossing at the intersection of Front Street and Washington Avenue in South Philadelphia, resulting in one fatality and one person injured. As reported by FOX 29, the accident occurred a little after 7 p.m., taking the life of a 35-year-old man, while his 29-year-old wife was hospitalized.
The couple, crossing northbound on Front Street when the bus was making a westbound turn off the street, were almost on the sidewalk, said Lt. Brown of the Philadelphia Police Department Crash Investigation Division in a statement obtained by FOX 29. Tragically, life-saving measures performed by a Philadelphia Police officer on the husband proved futile at the scene, and the wife’s condition has yet to be detailed publicly.
Further details provided by 6ABC clarify that the couple was attempting to cross Front Street in the crosswalk when the accident occurred. Notably, the man was dragged under the bus and officers at the scene attempted to provide life-saving measures, with Lt. Gregory Brown from Philadelphia police's Crash Investigation Division stating, "With the help of I believe the victim's wife, they removed him from under the bus and the sergeant did CPR but was unable to bring him back."
SEPTA has expressed its condolences and promised a thorough investigation alongside the ongoing one by Philadelphia Police. "Our hearts go out to everyone who is impacted by this tragic incident. SEPTA is committed to fully assisting Philadelphia Police in the accident investigation. SEPTA’s System Safety Division is also conducting its own examination of the incident," SEPTA said in a statement provided to 6ABC. Surveillance video, which shows the bus making the turn at the intersection, is being reviewed by the authorities as part of the investigation, revealed by NBC10.
In the aftermath, a winter hat and earmuffs from the victim lay on the ground at the scene, which was cordoned off with crime scene tape. While the authorities work to piece together the events that led up to the tragedy, the community mourns a life lost and another impacted by the incident.
