An early morning commute in Flushing, Queens, turned into an emergency incident as an MTA bus collided with a light pole, resulting in injuries for eight individuals this past Friday. Eyewitness News reports that at approximately 6 a.m. at the intersection of 57th Road and Main Street, the bus unexpectedly jumped the curb, leading to this alarming event. Video from the scene showcased the intensity of the crash, which was powerful enough to tear down a street sign and disrupt a traffic light.
The aftermath of the collision saw seven passengers, and the bus driver transported to New York-Presbyterian Queens with injuries deemed non-life threatening. As for the cause of the incident, the driver of the Q20 bus, who has been with MTA since last October, claimed he misjudged the curb while navigating the bus stop, according to ABC7NY. Despite the impact, there was no immediate indication of a medical condition or distraction affecting the driver's performance.
Meanwhile, PIX11 News also covered the story, noting multiple injuries arising from the crash. The authorities confirmed that at least seven passengers were hospitalized following the incident and reiterated the preliminary details regarding the driver's attempts to maneuver a right turn onto Main Street before striking the light pole. PIX11 News details the ongoing investigation into the driver's actions leading up to the accident.
MTA has since pulled the driver involved from service pending further investigation, and standard post-incident testing will be conducted to ascertain any contributing factors. In response to the crash, officials are reviewing camera footage from inside the vehicle, however, there seems to be no apparent immediate cause such as driver incapacitation or distraction, as initially reported by ABC7NY. The full scope of the events leading to this unfortunate accident remains unclear as the authorities continue to scrutinize the circumstances surrounding this incident.
