A weekend bus ride turned dangerous for Houston commuters near Midtown when a Route 54 METRO bus went off the McGowen Street overpass late Saturday afternoon. The bus slid down the embankment alongside State Highway 288 and came to rest at a steep angle. Emergency crews rescued passengers and the driver, and several were taken to nearby hospitals. Traffic on Highway 288 and surrounding streets was heavily affected for hours as teams worked to secure and recover the vehicle.
What officials say
METRO officials reported that the Route 54 bus was carrying 13 passengers and the operator when another vehicle struck its rear, pushing it through the overpass barrier. All passengers and the driver were removed from the wreck, and 14 people were taken to area hospitals, ABC13 reports.
Rescue and response
Houston firefighters and EMS conducted a large-scale rescue, descending the embankment to reach the damaged bus. Most passengers were able to exit on their own, but one required an extended extrication. Crews used specialized tools to free the individual. About 30 fire personnel and six ambulances responded to the scene.
How the bus came to rest
Traffic camera footage showed the bus at a steep angle on the grassy slope beside Highway 288, with part of it still hanging over the embankment. Local broadcasters reported that the crash occurred on the McGowen overpass near Midtown, and Houston TranStar cameras captured the incident, according to KHOU.
Clearing the scene and investigation
METRO police and partner agencies have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash, while TxDOT crews worked to cut into the embankment to allow recovery teams to remove the bus. METRO reported that the bus operator did not sustain serious injuries, and the driver of the other vehicle involved was in critical but stable condition.
Route context
Route 54, also known as the Scott line, travels through the university corridor and Midtown, serving students, workers, and local residents, according to METRO. Service on the line is expected to be disrupted while investigators and recovery crews work in the crash area.
As evening approached, Metro police reported that the crash scene remained active while investigators worked to determine the sequence of events. A definitive cause has not been released, and authorities are asking anyone with video or information about the incident to come forward.
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